DURING  THE 

AMERICAN  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR, 
Tirom  1"1"15  to  1183, 

DESCRIBING    INTERESTING    EVENTS    AND    TRANSACTIONS    OF   THIS   PERIOD, 
WITH    NUMEROUS 

HISTORICAL  FACTS  AND  ANECDOTES, 

FROM   THE    ORIGINAL    MANUSCRIPT. 
TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED 


AN  APPENDIX, 


CONTAINING 


JJiojjrajrtitcai 

OE 

SEVERAL  GENERAL  OFFICERS. 


BY  JAMES  JHACHEK,  M  D. 

LATE  SURGEON  IN  THE  AMERICAN  ARMY. 


Aa  Americans  we  hjdl  with  delight  any  attempt  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the  word*  o'r 
actions  of  those  whose  names  we  have  been  taught  to  revere," 


BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED  BY  RICHARDSON  AND  LORD. 


J.  H.  A.  Frost,  printer. 
1823. 


DISTRICT  OF  MASSACHUSETTS,  to  wit: 
DISTRICT  CLERK'S  OFFICE. 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty-three  and  in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  Richardson  Sf  Lord,  of  the  said  Dis 
trict,  have  deposited  in  this  office,  the  title  of  a  book  the  right  whereof  they  claim  as  pro 
prietors,  in  the  words  following,  to  -wit  : 

"A  Military  Journal  during  the  American  Revolutionary  War,  from  1775  to  1783,  des 
cribing  Interesting  Events  and  Transactions  of  this  period,  with  numerous  Historical 
Facts  and  Anecdotes,  from  the  original  Manuscript.  To  which  is  added,  an  Appendix, 
containing  Biographical  Sketches  of  several  General  Officers.  By  James  Thacher,  M.  D 
late  Surgeon  in  the  American  army."  'As  Americans  we  hail  with  delight  any  attempt  to 
rescue  from  oblivion  the  words  or  actions  of  those  whose  names  we  have  been  taught  to 
revere.'  " 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled,  "  An  Act  for 
the  encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  Books  to 
the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned:"  and 
also  to  an  Act  entitled,  "  An  Act  supplementary  to  an  Act,  entitled.  An  Act  for  the  en 
couragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  Books,  to  the 
Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  ;  and  extending 
the  benefits  thereof  to  the  Arts  of  Deigning,  Engraving  and  Etching  Historical  and 
other  Prints."  JOHN  W.  DAVIS, 

Clerk  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


GIFT 


DEDICATION. 


TO  HIS  EXCELLENCY  JOHN  BROOKS,  ESQUIRE, 
Governor  of  Massachusetts. 

IT  is  with  peculiar  felicity  that  your  Excellency  is 
recognized  as  one  among  the  few  survivors  of  that 
heroic  band,  who  have  been  crowned  with  military 
honors  for  glorious  achievements  at  an  era  when  our 
republic  was  in  its  infancy,  and  in  peril  for  its  ex 
istence.  This  production,  though  aspiring  not  to 
the  dignified  title  of  history,  may  revive  in  your  re 
collection  scenes  and  events  of  the  deepest  interest, 
in  which  you  nobly  participated,  and  may  afford  to 
the  rising  generation  lessons  of  instruction  and  motives 
for  gratitude  to  their  progenitors,  when  we  shall  be 
at  rest.  Long  may  those  public  virtues  and  that 
philanthropy,  which  are  so  eminently  your  charac 
teristics,  continue  to  cement  the  love  and  gratitude 
of  the  people,  and  may  the  benedictions  of  Heaven 
be  your  final  reward.  With  sentiments  of  profound 
veneration  for  the  patriotic  warrior  and  statesman, 
this  work  is  dedicated, 

By  your  Excellency's  obedient, 
and  very  humble  servant, 

JAMES  TEACHER, 

Plymouth,  January  1st,  1823. 

815 


INTRODUCTION. 


IT  is  through  your  earnest  solicitations,  my  dear 
friends,  that  I  commit  to  public  inspection  the  crude 
fragments,  recorded  in  my  Military  Journal,  kept 
during  the  American  Revolutionary  War.  The  subor 
dinate  station  which  I  sustained  did  not  permit  access 
to  the  great  source  from  which  all  important  events 
derived  their  origin ;  nor  was  I  made  acquainted 
with  the  views  and  motives  of  action.  The  transac 
tions  and  occurrences  which  I  shall  relate,  though 
of  minor  import  and  penned  for  temporary  amuse 
ment,  are  nevertheless  of  a  nature  too  deeply  inter 
esting  to  be  consigned  to  oblivion.  No  circumstance 
pertaining  to  our  country's  emancipation,  but  should 
be  embalmed  in  the  memory  of  our  children  and 
transmitted  to  the  latest  posterity,  as  among  the  most 
interesting  transactions  recorded  in  the  annals  of  man. 
When  we  contemplate  the  vastly  extended  conse 
quences  of  our  revolution,  it  will  be  conceded  that 
every  incident  respecting  its  rise  and  progress,  and 
the  renowned  patriots  and  heroes  by  whom  it  was 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

achieved,  is  well  worthy  of  perpetual  remembrance. 
With  these  are  associated  the  primary  principles  of 
the  rights  of  man,  which  so  successfully  prevailed 
at  the  period  of  our  country's  infancy.  Those  prin 
ciples,  which  are  the  great  spring  of  action  in  the 
bosom  of  the  honest  patriot,  spurn  the  power  and 
paralyze  the  hearts  of  tyrants.  The  contents  of  these 
sheets  refer  more  to  details  of  military  manoeuvres 
and  the  internal  police  of  camps,  than  to  projects 
and  events  which  decide  the  fate  of  nations  ;  they 
may  however,  afford  amusement  to  the  inquisitive 
mind,  and  to  the  rising  generation,  precepts  not  alto 
gether  destitute  of  importance  and  useful  instruction. 
They  will  disclose  some  interesting  particulars,  not 
generally  known,  and  may  serve  to  augment  the  stock 
of  information  developing  the  fatal  policy  of  the 
British  government,  as  displayed  on  the  theatre  of 
her  American  colonies.  This  production  may  more 
over  subserve  the  purpose  of  an  epitomy  of  the 
history  of  the  revolutionary  contest,  and  abridge  in 
some  measure  the  labor  of  the  youthful  mind  in  the 
study  of  the  more  elaborate  and  technical  histories 
of  that  ever  memorable  epoch.  With  this  view  I 
have  prefixed  a  short  sketch  of  interesting  transac 
tions  prior  to  the  actual  commencement  of  hostilities. 
"  History,77  says  a  late  elegant  writer,  "  presents  no 
struggle  for  liberty,  which  has  in  it  more  of  the 
moral  sublime,  than  that  of  the  American  revolution. 
It  has  been  of  late  years  too  much  forgotten  in  the 
sharp  contentions  of  party,  and  he  who  endeavors  to 
withdraw  the  public  mind  from  these  debasing  con 
flicts,  and  to  fix  it  on  the  grandeur  of  that  epoch, 
which,  magnificent  in  itself,  begins  now  to  wear  the 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

solemn  livery  of  antiquity,  as  it  is  viewed  through 
the  deepening  twilight  of  almost  half  a  century?  cer 
tainly  performs  a  meritorious  service,  and  can  scarcely 
need  a  justification/'* 

It  may  he  deemed  reproachful  to  our  country,  that 
nearly  half  a  century  has  elapsed  since  the  American 
colonies  were  emancipated  from  British  thraldom,  and 
that  we  are  yet  unfurnished  with  proper  biographical 
memoirs  of  the  renowned  patriots  and  heroes  whose 
unparalleled  efforts  under  Providence,  achieved  the 
inestimable  blessings  of  liberty  and  freedom.  No 
characters  assuredly,  are  more  worthy  to  excite  the 
curiosity  and  gratitude  of  posterity  than  those  who 
contributed  so  largely  to  the  establishment  of  our 
invaluable  civil  and  religious  privileges  under  a  re 
publican  constitution.  The  immortal  chieftain,  in 
deed,  and  his  illustrious  compeer,  General  Greene, 
can  receive  no  additional  memorials  from  any  labors 
in  my  power  to  bestow.  I  might  incur  the  imputa 
tion  of  arrogance  were  I  to  imagine  myself  competent 
to  the  duty  of  portraying  in  a  just  light  the  char 
acters  of  those  whose  revered  names  are  introduced 
into  the  appendix  of  this  work.  I  can  only  claim 
the  merit  of  having  exerted  my  best  efforts  to  pro 
cure  documents  and  assistance,  and  to  illustrate  their 
qualities  under  the  guidance  of  the  legitimate  prin 
ciples  of  impartiality  and  justice.  Should  posterity 
inquire  why  their  ancestors,  destitute  of  military 
education  or  experience,  abandoned  their  peaceful 
abodes  to  encounter  the  perils  of  uncertain  warfare, 
let  them  be  told  it  was  not  to  execute  the  mandates 
of  a  tyrant  in  subjugating  their  fellow  men,  but  it 

*Silliman's  Tour  from  Hurtford  to  Quebec,  1820. 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION. 

was  in  defence  of  our  most  precious  rights  and  privi 
leges  ;  it  was  a  display  of  that  genuine  patriotism 
and  true  glory  which,  it  is  ever  most  honorable  to 
venerate  and  cherish.  While  their  own  hearts  glow 
with  patriotic  fervor,  let  them  reflect,  that  true  glory 
consists  in  the  love  of  peace  and  the  culture  of  be 
nevolence  and  good  will  to  men.  Let  their  souls 
hold  in  detestation  every  species  of  warfare,  save 
that  which  may  secure  and  defend  the  invaluable 
heritage  which  their  fathers  have  bequeathed  them, 
and  for  which  their  memories  should  be  embalmed 
with  the  incense  of  gratitude. 

N.  B.  Should  the  reader  conceive  that  in  detailing  the 
ravages  and  aggressions  of  the  British  army,  I  have  in 
dulged  in  language  of  asperity,  inconsistent  with  that 
urbanity  and  good  fellowship  which  it  is  desirable  should 
be  cultivated  between  the  two  nations  at  the  present  day, 
it  may  be  observed  that  this  is  but  a  feeble  specimen  of 
the  belligerant  language  employed  by  writers  at  that 
period  when  the  wrathful  passions  were  reciprocally  ex 
cited  and  continually  aggravated. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL.— 1775. 


January. — At  the  precise  period  when  my  medi 
cal  studies  and  education  are  completed,  under  the 
patronage  of  Dr.  Abner  Hersey  of  Barnstable,  and  I 
am  contemplating  the  commencement  of  a  new  career 
in  life,  I  find  our  country  about  to  be  involved  in 
all  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war.  A  series  of  arbitrary 
and  oppressive  measures,  on  the  part  of  the  mother 
country,  has  long  been  advancing  to  that  awful 
crisis,  when  an  appeal  to  the  power  of  the  sword 
becomes  inevitable.  The  event  of  this  mighty 
struggle  is  to  decide  an  affair  of  infinite  magnitude, 
not  merely  as  it  respects  the  present  generation,  but 
as  it  will  affect  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  unborn 
millions.  The  great  fundamental  principle,  in  the 
present  controversy,  is  the  right  which  is  claimed  by 
the  Parliament  of  Great  Britian,  to  exercise  domi 
nion,  as  the  only  supreme,  and  uncontrollable  legis 
lative  power  over  all  the  American  Colonies.  "  Can 
they  make  laws  to  bind  the  colonies  in  all  cases  what 
ever  ;  levy  taxes  on  them  without  their  consent  ; 
dispose  of  the  revenues,  thus  raised,  without  their 
control ;  multiply  officers  at  pleasure,  and  assign 
them  fees,  to  be  paid  without,  nay,  contrary  to  and 
in  direct  violation  of  acts  of  our  Provincial  Assem- 
2 


10  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775. 

blies  and  approved  by  the  crown  ?  Can  they  en 
large  the  power  of  admiralty  courts  ;  divert  the  usual 
channels  of  justice  ;  deprive  the  colonists  of  trial  by  a 
jury  of  their  countrymen  ;  in  short,  break  down  the 
barriers  which  their  forefathers  have  erected  against 
arbitrary  power,  and  enforce  their  edicts  by  fleets 
and  armies."  Then  indeed  are  we  reduced  to  a 
state  of  abject  slavery  ;  and  all  resistance  to  acts  of 
Parliament  may  justly  be  called  by  the  name  of  trea 
son  and  rebellion.  "  The  people  of  these  colonies 
consider  themselves  as  British  subjects,  entitled  to 
all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  Freemen.  It  is  in 
separably  essential  to  the  freedom  of  a  people,  and 
the  undoubted  right  of  Englishmen,  that  no  taxes 
be  imposed  on  them  but  with  their  own  consent, 
given  personally  or  by  their  representatives.  From 
their  local  circumstances,  the  colonies  cannot  be 
represented  in  the  house  of  commons  of  Great 
Britain ;  the  only  representatives  of  the  people  of 
the  colonies  are  the  persons  chosen  therein  by  them 
selves  ;  and  no  taxes  ever  can  be  constitutionally  im 
posed  on  them,  but  by  their  respective  legislatures/* 
All  acts  of  Parliament  therefore,  for  raising  a  reve 
nue  in  America,  are  considered  as  depriving  us  of 
our  property,  without  our  consent,  and  consequently 
as  a  palpable  infringement  of  our  ancient  rights  and 
privileges.  They  are  unconstitutional  and  arbi 
trary  laws,  subversive  of  the  liberties  and  privi 
leges  secured  to  us  by  our  royal  charters.  It  is  not 
consistent  with  the  principles  which  actuate  the 
American  people,  ever  tamely  to  submit  to  such  a 
degrading  system  of  government ;  not  however  from 
a  want  of  loyalty  to  our  king,  nor  from  an  undue 
impatience  of  subordination  or  legal  restraint ;  for 
in  a  quiet  submission  and  demeanor  to  constitutional 
authority,  and  in  zeal  and  attachment  to  our  king, 
we  dare  to  vie  with  any  of  our  fellow  subjects  of 
Great  Britain ;  but  it  is  an  innate  love  of  liberty,  and 
our  just  rights,  that  impels  us  to  the  arduous  struggle. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  11 

In  no  country,  it  is  asserted,  is  the  love  of  liberty 
more  deeply  rooted,  or  the  knowledge  of  the  rights 
inherent  to  freemen  more  generally  diffused,  or 
better  understood,  than  among  the  British  American 
Colonies.  Our  religious  and  political  privileges  are 
derived  from  our  virtuous  fathers  ;  they  were  in 
haled  with  our  earliest  breath ;  and  are,  and  will 
I  trust  ever  be,  implanted  arid  cherished  in  the 
bosom  of  the  present  and  future  generations.  These 
are  the  prevalent  sentiments  in  New  England  at  this 
eventful  crisis,  and  all  the  other  provinces,  Georgia 
excepted,  are  known  to  be  in  unison  with  us  in  the 
resolution,  to  oppose  with  all  our  power  every  vio 
lation  of  our  just  rights  and  privileges.  We  are  not 
however  authorized,  even  in  the  most  glorious  of 
causes,  to  expect  a  perfect  unanimity  among  a  peo 
ple.  Numerous  are  the  springs  of  men's  actions ;  and 
diversity  of  sentiment  and  views  are  characteristic 
of  human  nature.  Accordingly  we  find  a  small 
minority  in  our  country  who  are  inimical  to  the  com 
mon  cause,  and  who  are  continually  opposing  every 
proceeding  of  the  majority.  These  people  are 
doubtless  actuated  by  various  motives ;  a  few,  com 
paratively,  influenced  by  principle ;  some  by  a  spirit 
of  timidity,  or  the  absurd  doctrine  of  passive  obe 
dience  and  non-resistance  ;  others,  from  the  strength 
of  their  passions,  and  weakness  of  judgment,  are 
biassed  and  led  astray  by  designing  demagogues. 
There  are,  however,  those  who  are  vile  enough  to 
prostrate  all  honor  and  principle  with  the  sordid 
view  of  office  and  preferment, 

"  For  'tis  their  duty,  all  the  learned  think, 
T'espouse  that  cause  by  which  the}r  eat  and  drink." 

Those  disaffected  individuals,  who  still  adhere  to 
the  royal  cause,  have  received  the  epithet  of  Tories  ; 
the  very  name  is  extremely  abhorrent  to  the  people 
in  general,  and  they  are  subjected  to  such  rigorous 
discipline  as  to  prevent  them  from  doing  injury  to 


12  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

the  great  cause  of  our  country.  The  great  majority 
of  the  people  are  happily  united  in  the  resolution 
to  oppose,  to  the  uttermost,  the  wicked  attempts  of 
the  English  cabinet.  This  class  of  people  have 
assumed  the  appellation  of  Whigs  ;  but  by  our  ene 
mies  are  stigmatized  by  the  name  of  Rebels.  If,  as 
we  affirm,  the  British  government  have  ceased  to 
rule  agreeably  to  the  principles  of  our  constitution, 
and  our  royal  charter,  and  have  assumed  to  them 
selves  the  high  prerogative  of  despotic  sway,  then 
are  we  absolved  from  our  allegiance  and  duties  as 
British  subjects.  A  contract  abrogated  by  one  party 
can  no  longer  be  binding  on  the  other.  If  we  are 
menaced  with  royal  power  and  authority,  we  justify 
ourselves  in  defending  our  indefeasible  rights  against 
despotism  and  tyrannical  oppression.  Cowards  alone 
will  bend  to  unjust  power,  and  slaves  and  sycophants 
only  will  yield  both  soul  and  body  to  the  disposal  of 
tyrannical  masters.  Should  our  efforts,  under  God, 
be  crowned  with  the  desired  success,  we  shall  obtain 
the  honor  of  rescuing  ourselves  and  posterity  from 
vassalage  ;  but  if  compelled  to  succumb  under  royal 
power,  then  will  ours  be  the  rebel's  fate,  the  scaf 
fold  and  the  gibbet  will  be  glutted  with  their  devot 
ed  victims.  We  cannot  justly  be  accused  of  a  rash 
precipitance  of  proceeding  ;  for  petitions  and  memo 
rials,  couched  in  the  most  loyal  and  humble  language, 
have  been  at  various  periods  presented  to  our  royal 
sovereign,  and  his  parliament,  praying  for  a  redress 
of  grievances;  but  they  are  deaf  to  all  our  complaints 
and  supplications,  and  the  coercive  arm  of  power  is 
suspended  over  us,  threatening  implacable  vengeance. 
Among  the  odious  acts  of  the  British  Parliament 
they  passed  one  which  imposed  a  duty  on  the  article 
of  tea,  and  several  cargoes  of  this  commodity  were 
shipped  to  America  to  obtain  the  duty  and  a  market. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  tea  ships  at  Boston  great  indig 
nation  was  excited  among  the  people ;  town  meetings 
were  called  to  devise  some  legal  measures  to  prohibit 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  13 

the  landing  of  the  odious  article.  It  was  universally 
understood  that  if  the  tea  was  once  landed,  and 
stored,  it  would  by  some  means  come  to  a  market 
and  the  duty  to  the  government  would  be  secured. 
In  order  to  defeat  this  object  a  number  of  persons  in 
disguise  entered  the  ships  at  the  wharves,  broke  open 
342  chests  of  tea,  and  discharged  their  contents  into 
the  water  at  the  dock.  This  was  on  the  16th  Decem 
ber,  1773.  When  intelligence  of  this  summary  pro 
ceeding  reached  England,  it  was  condemned  by  the 
government  as  enormously  criminal.  They  menaced 
our  Province  with  the  most  exemplary  vengeance, 
and  Parliament  soon  passed  the  Boston  Vindictive 
Port  Bill  as  a  part  of  their  coercive  system,  so  that 
merely  the  name  of  tea  is  now  associated  with  minis 
terial  grievances,  and  tea  drinking  is  almost  tanta 
mount  to  an  open  avowal  of  toryism.  Those  who 
are  anxious  to  avoid  the  odious  epithet  of  enemies 
to  their  country,  strictly  prohibit  the  use  of  tea  in 
their  families,  and  the  most  squeamish  ladies  are 
compelled  to  have  recourse  to  substitutes,  or  secretly 
steal  indulgence  in  their  favorite  East  India  beve 
rage. 

March. — For  the  purpose  of  enforcing  submission 
to  the  cruel  mandates  of  the  royal  government,  a 
reinforcement  of  the  British  army  has  arrived  at 
Boston ;  and  General  Gage  is  appointed  Governor 
and  Commander  in  Chief.  An  armed  fleet  also 
occupies  the  harbor ;  and  the  whole  port  is  closed 
against  all  but  British  vessels.  In  short,  the  horrors 
of  civil  war  seem  stalking,  with  rapid  strides,  towards 
our  devoted  country.  The  people  have  resorted  to 
the  expedient  of  abolishing  all  the  courts  of  justice 
under  the  new  regulations.  In  our  shire  towns  the 
populace  have  collected  in  sufficient  numbers  to  bar 
the  doors  of  the  court  houses,  and  prohibit  the  en 
trance  of  judges  and  officers ;  the  jurors  are  so 
intimidated,  or  zealous  in  the  good  cause,  that  in 
general  they  refuse  to  take  the  oath,  or  to  act  in  any 


14  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

manner  under  the  new  modification  of  government ; 
and  the  clerks  of  courts,  who  have  issued  warrants 
by  which  the  jurors  are  summoned,  have  in  many 
instances  been  compelled  to  acknowledge  their  contri 
tion,  and  to  publish  in  the  newspapers,  a  full  recanta 
tion.  At  the  regular  term  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  at  Barnstable,  in  September  last,  I  witnessed 
the  following  prompt  procedure.  A  body  of  about 
twelve  hundred  men  assembled  and  obstructed  the 
passage  to  the  court  house  door.  The  leader  of  this 
assemblage  was  Dr.  Nathaniel  Freeman,  a  bold  son  of 
liberty,  of  Sandwich.  Colonel  James  Otis,  the  chief 
justice  of  the  court,  preceded  by  the  sheriff,  ap 
proached;  and  the  venerable  chief  justice  demanded 
admission.  Dr.  Freeman  replied  that  it  was  the 
intention  of  the  people  to  prevent  the  court's  being 
opened  to  exercise  those  unconstitutional  powers, 
with  which  they  are  invested  by  Parliament.  The 
chief  justice,  in  his  majesty's  name,  commanded  them 
to  disperse,  and  permit  the  court  to  enter  and  pro 
ceed  to  business.  But  his  majesty's  name  had  lost 
its  power ;  it  can  have  no  charms  with  the  sons  of 
liberty.  The  venerable  judge  then  said  he  had 
acquitted  himself  of  his  duty,  and  retired.  This 
proceeding  had  been  discussed  and  concerted  prior  to 
the  court  term  ;  and  Colonel  Otis  himself,  a  stanch 
whig,  was,  it  is  believed,  not  only  apprized  of,  but 
actually  acquiesced  in,  this  bold  measure.  This  ex 
cellent  man  is  now  advanced  to  about  74  years  in  life ; 
he  is  considered  as  possessing  sound  sense  and  good 
judgment ;  and  as  being  of  the  purest  integrity.  He 
lias  been,  for  many  years,  the  leading  law  character  in 
the  Old  Colony,  and  a  member  of  his  majesty's  coun 
cil  of  the  province ;  but  his  patriotism  and  zeal  in 
the  cause  of  our  country  have  rendered  him  and  his 
family  exceedingly  odious  to  Governor  Hutchinson, 
and  other  adherents  of  thefcrown.  Colonel  Otis  is  the 
parent  of  that  great  champion,  and  able  advocate  for 
liberty  and  the  rights  of  man,  James  Otis,  jun.  Esq. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  15 

This  gentleman  is  now  in  a  melancholy  state  of  men 
tal  derangement ;  and  all  New  England  is  deploring 
the  irreparable  loss  of  the  talents,  eloquence,  and 
patriotic  services  of  this  justly  celebrated  character. 
Colonel  Otis  has  two  other  sons,  Joseph  and  Samuel 
Allen  Otis  who  are  active  whigs ;  and  a  daughter, 
married  to  James  Warren,  Esq.  of  Plymouth,  who  is 
now  President  of  our  Provincial  Congress.  Though 
no  judicial  courts  are  in  existence,  few  crimes  are 
committed  ;  all  is  peace,  order  and  regularity.  The 
people  are  their  own  rulers,  and  never  was  there 
less  need  of  penal  laws.  Trivial  disputes  are  mutu 
ally  adjusted  or  decided  by  reference  ;  pecuniary 
demands  are  suspended,  and  the  simple  recommenda 
tions  of  Congress,  and  of  our  committees  of  safety, 
receive  that  cheerful  acquiescence  which  is  scorn 
fully  denied  to  the  coercive  edicts  emanating  from 
despotic  power.  For 

u  Freedom  has  a  thousand  charms  to  show, 
That  slaves,  howe'er  contented,  never  know." 

We  have  a  Provincial  Congress  in  session  at  Con 
cord,  consisting  of  delegates  elected  by  the  people, 
and  also  a  grand  Continental  Congress  at  Philadel 
phia,  composed  of  characters  highly  distinguished  for 
political  wisdom,  rigid  patriotism  and  public  virtue. 

The  public  indignation  is  now  greatly  excited  by 
the  following  shameful  transaction.  The  people  from 
the  country,  whose  business  called  them  into  Boston, 
were  suspected  by  the  officers,  of  purchasing  guns 
from  their  soldiers.  In  order  to  furnish  an  oppor 
tunity  to  inflict  punishment  and  to  raise  occasion 
for  a  serious  quarrel,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Nesbit  of 
the  forty-seventh  regiment  ordered  a  soldier  to  offer 
a  countryman  an  old  rusty  musket.  A  man  from 
Billerica  was  caught  by  this  bait  and  purchased  the 
gun  for  three  dollars.  The  unfortunate  man  was 
immediately  seized  by  Nesbit  and  confined  in  the 
guard  house  all  night.  Early  next  morning  they 


16  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775. 

stripped  him  entirely  naked,  covered  him  over  with 
warm  tar,  and  then  with  feathers,  placed  him  on  a 
cart  and  conducted  him  through  the  streets  as  far  as 
liberty -tree,  where  the  people  began  to  collect  in 
vast  numbers,  and  the  military,  fearing  for  their  own 
safety,  dismissed  the  man,  and  retreated  to  their 
barracks.  The  party  consisted  of  about  thirty  gren 
adiers  with  fixed  bayonets,  twenty  drums  and  fifes 
playing  the  Rogues'  March,  headed  by  the  redoubta 
ble  Nesbit  with  a  drawn  sword  !  What  an  honor 
able  deed  for  a  British  field  officer  and  grenadiers  ! 
The  selectmen  of  Billerica  remonstrated  with  Gen 
eral  Gage  respecting  this  outrage,  but  obtained  no 
satisfaction. 

Jlpril  21  st. — Intelligence  is  now  received  that 
the  British  regulars  have  marched  out  of  Boston,  and 
actually  commenced  hostilities  against  our  people  at 
Lexington.  For  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  par 
ticular  facts,  I  have  been  desired  to  wait  on  Col.  Otis, 
at  his  mansion  in  this  town.  It  was  in  the  evening, 
when  I  found  this  dignified  patriot  in  his  easy  chair, 
with  several  of  his  neighbors  listening  with  agitated 
spirits  to  some  account  of  this  first  most  awful  trage 
dy.  The  good  old  gentleman  had  received  a  letter 
containing  a  statement  of  some  particulars,  and  with 
manifest  trepidation  he  said  to  this  effect.  "The 
British  troops  marched  to  Lexington  and  Concord 
last  Wednesday,  the  19th  instant,  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  some  of  our  military  stores ;  our  militia 
collected  and  met  them  at  Lexington ;  the  regulars 
soon  commenced  firing  on  them ;  our  people  re 
turned  the  fire ;  a  smart  skirmish  ensued,  and  several 
men  were  killed  on  both  sides.  The  British  were 
compelled  to  retreat,  in  some  confusion,  to  Boston ; 
and  our  people  pursued  and  harassed  them.  The 
fearful  day  has  arrived !  a  civil  war  has  actually 
commenced  in  our  land.  We  must  be  prepared  for 
the  worst,  and  may  God  preserve  and  protect  our 
country."  This  tragical  event  seems  to  have  elec- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775.  17 

trifled  all  classes  of  people ;  the  brave  are  fired 
with  manly  resentment,  the  timid  overwhelmed  in 
despair ;  the  patriotic  whigs  sorrowing  over  public 
calamities,  while  the  tories  indulge  the  secret  hope, 
that  the  friends  of  liberty  are  about  to  receive  their 
chastisement.  The  sword  is  now  unsheathed,  and 
our  friends  are  slaughtered  by  our  cruel  enemies ; 
expresses  are  hastening  from  town  to  town,  in  all 
directions  through  the  country,  spreading  the  melan 
choly  tidings  and  inspiriting  and  rousing  the  people 
To  Jlrms  !  To  Jlrms  !  The  people  of  New  England 
have  taken  the  alarm,  and  their  hearts  are  animated 
even  to  enthusiasm.  There  is  an  enthusiasm  in  reli 
gion,  in  politics,  in  military  achievements,  and  in 
gallantry  and  love,  and  why  not  an  enthusiasm  in  the 
love  of  country?  No  species  of  enthusiasm  surely 
can  be  more  laudable,  or  more  honorable.  Never 
was  a  cause  more  just,  more  sacred  than  ours ;  we  are 
commanded  to  defend  the  rich  inheritance  bequeath 
ed  to  us  by  our  virtuous  ancestors ;  and  it  is  our 
bounden  duty  to  transmit  it  uncontaminated  to  posteri 
ty  ;  we  must  fight  valiantly  therefore,  for  our  lives 
and  property,  for  our  holy  religion,  for  our  honor, 
and  for  our  dearest  friends.  We  are  not  born  to  be 
slaves,  and  are  resolved  to  live  and  die,  free  ;  ap 
pealing  to  the  sovereign  Ruler  of  the  Universe  for 
the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  relying  on  his  Almighty 
arm  for  protection  and  support.  A  certain  number 
of  active  men,  in  every  town,  have  formed  them 
selves  into  military  companies,  under  the  name  of 
minute  men ;  they  are  daily  practising  the  manual 
exercise,  and  are  held  in  constant  readiness  to  march 
against  the  enemy  at  a  moment's  warning.  We 
await  with  trembling  expectation  the  issue  of  every 
hour. 

Authenticated  accounts  are  now  received  of  the 
battle  at  Lexington.     On  Tuesday  evening,  18th  in 
stant,  General  Gage  despatched,  with  as  much  secrecy 
as  possible,  a  detachment  consisting  of  eight  or  nine 
3 


18  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

hundred  regulars,  tinder  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Col.  Smith,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  some  military 
stores,  which  our  people  had  deposited  at  Concord, 
about  eighteen  miles  from  Boston.  Having  arrived  at 
Lexington,  six  miles  short  of  Concord,  they  were  met 
by  a  company  of  militia,  of  about  one  hundred  men, 
who  having  taken  the  alarm,  began  to  assemble  from 
different  towns  before  daylight.  They  were  assem 
bled  near  the  church,  about  sunrise ;  when  the  British 
advanced  in  quick  march  to  within  a  few  rods,  Major 
Pitcairn  called  out,  "  Disperse  you  Rebels,  throw 
down  your  arms  and  disperse"  Their  small  number 
would  not  admit  of  opposition,  and  while  they  were 
dispersing,  the  regulars  huzzaed,  and  immediately 
one  or  two  pistols  were  fired  by  the  officers,  and  four 
or  five  muskets  by  the  soldiers ;  when  a  pretty  gen 
eral  discharge  from  the  whole  party  followed,  by 
which  eight  of  our  people  were  killed  and  seven 
wounded.  The  British  now  renewed  their  march 
to  Concord,  where  they  destroyed  a  few  articles  of 
stores  and  sixty  barrels  of  flour.  Here  they  were 
met  by  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  militia  men,  on 
whom  they  fired  and  killed  two,  and  wounded  others. 
Our  militia  and  minute  men  were  now  collecting  in 
considerable  numbers,  and  being  justly  enraged 
they  made  a  bold  and  furious  attack  on  the  enemy, 
and  drove  them  in  quick  march  to  Lexington.  Gen 
eral  Gage  having  received  intelligence  of  the  critical 
situation  of  his  troops,  immediately  ordered  out  Lord 
Percy,  with  a  large  reinforcement,  with  two  field 
pieces.  He  marched  over  the  neck  through  Rox- 
bury,  his  music  playing  by  way  of  contempt  and 
derision  the  tune  of  "  Yankee  doodle"  This  timely 
reinforcement  joined  the  party  under  command  of 
Colonel  Smith  at  Lexington,  which  formed  a  force  of 
about  eighteen  hundred  men.  They  soon  deemed 
it  prudent  to  commence  their  inarch  to  Boston,  the 
provincial  militia  and  minute  men,  continually  in 
creasing  in  numbers,  pursued  and  flanked  them  with 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775.  19 

the  hope  of  cutting  off  their  retreat.  A  constant 
skirmishing  ensued  ;  the  provincials  concealed  them 
selves  behind  stone  walls,  and  with  a  sure  aim  thin 
ned  their  enemies'  ranks,  and  occasioned  among  them 
great  confusion.  On  their  side,  they  could  only 
keep  up  a  scattering  fire,  without  effect,  frequently 
firing  over  the  stone  walls,  when  there  was  not  a 
man  to  be  seen  behind  them.  The  great  object  of 
the  British,  was  to  effect  a  safe  retreat  to  Boston ; 
but,  to  avenge  themselves,  they  burnt  and  plundered 
houses,  destroyed  property,  and  actually  murdered 
several  innocent  unarmed  persons.  The  situation 
of  the  king's  forces  was,  during  the  day,  extremely 
hazardous ;  and  it  is  considered  wonderful  that  any 
of  them  escaped.  Worn  down  and  almost  exhausted 
with  fatigue,  and  their  ammunition  nearly  expended, 
they  had  become  nearly  defenceless  when  they  reach 
ed  Charlestown,  in  the  evening,  after  a  loss  of  two 
hundred  and  seventy  three  men,  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners*  The  loss  on  the  side  of  the  Provin 
cials  is  eighty  eight  in  the  whole.  The  British 
officers  have  received  a  specimen  of  Yankee  courage, 
which  they  have  hitherto  affected  to  hold  in  the 
most  sovereign  contempt ;  they  have  ascertained  by 
fatal  experience,  that  the  people  of  New  England 
will  bid  defiance  to  their  veteran  regulars,  and  fight 
courageously  in  defence  of  their  rights.  It  is  truly 
said  to  be  matter  of  astonishment  and  chagrin,  that 
after  all  their  glorying,  their  veteran  troops  have 
been  compelled  to  flee  before  a  comparatively  small 
number  of  undisciplined  Yankees.  The  origin  of 
this  term,  so  frequently  employed  by  way  of  reproach 
to  the  New  England  people,  is  said  to  be  as  follows. 
A  farmer,  by  name  Jonathan  Hastings,  of  Cambridge, 
about  the  year  1713  used  it  as  a  cant,  favorite  word, 
to  express  excellency  when  applied  to  any  thing ; 
as  a  Yankee  good  horse,  Yankee  cider,  &c.  mean 
ing  an  excellent  horse  and  excellent  cider.  The 
students  at  college,  having  frequent  intercourse  with 


20  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

Mr.  Hastings,  and  hearing  him  employ  the  term  OH 
all  occasions,  adopted  it  themselves,  and  gave  him 
the  name  of  Yankee  Jonathan  5  this  soon  became  a 
cant  word  among  the  collegians  to  express  a  weak, 
simple,  awkward  person,  and  from  college  it  was 
carried  and  circulated  through  the  country,  till, 
from  its  currency  in  New  England,  it  was  at  length 
taken  up  and  unjustly  applied  to  the  New  Eng- 
landers  in  common,  as  a  term  of  reproach.  It  was 
in  consequence  of  this  that  a  particular  song  called 
"  Yankee  doodle"  was  composed  in  derision  of  those 
scornfully  called  Yankees. * 

May. — Since  the  catastrophe  at  Lexington,  our 
Provincial  Congress  have  addressed  the  several  towns 
of  the  colony  in  a  circular  letter,  in  the  following  im 
pressive  language.  "  We  conjure  you  by  all  that 
is  dear,  by  all  that  is  sacred,  that  you  give  all  as 
sistance  possible  in  forming  the  Army.  Our  all  is 
at  stake.  Death  and  devestation  are  the  certain 
consequences  of  delay.  Every  moment  is  infinitely 
precious.  An  hour  lost  may  deluge  your  country  in 
blood,  and  entail  perpetual  slavery  on  the  few  of 
your  posterity  who  may  survive  the  carnage.  We 
beg  and  entreat,  as  you  will  answer  it  to  your  country, 
to  your  consciences,  and,  above  all,  as  you  will  answer 
it  to  God  himself,  that  you  will  hasten  and  encourage, 
by  all  possible  means,  the  enlistment  of  men  to  form 
the  Army,  and  send  them  forward  to  head  quarters 
at  Cambridge,  with  that  expedition  which  the  vast  im 
portance  and  instant  urgency  of  the  affair  demands." 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  describe  the  zeal  and 
military  ardor  which  pervades  New  England  since 
the  battle  at  Lexington.  It  is  supposed  that  nearly 
forty  thousand  men  have  been  in  arms  with  the  de 
sign  of  investing  the  town  of  Boston,  and  avenging 
themselves  on  the  enemy  for  their  late  slaughter  of 

*  There  appears  some  incongruity  in  the  above  definition  of  the  word 
Yankee.  The  following;  Is  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  origin  frcra 
which  it  is  derived.  u  Yankee  is  the  Indian  corruption  of  Lnglish* 
Tenches,  Yanghs,  Yanldes,  and  finally  Yankee." 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  21 

our  brethren.  The  universal  voice  is  "  starve  them 
out"  Drive  them  from  the  town  and  let  his  majes 
ty's  ships  be  their  only  place  of  refuge.  Our  Pro 
vincial  Congress  have  resolved  that  an  army  of  thirty 
thousand  men  be  immediately  raised  and  established. 
A  considerable  number  have  already  enlisted,  and 
being  formed  into  regiments,  have  taken  their  station 
at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury.  The  country  militia, 
in  great  numbers,  have  arrived  from  various  parts  of 
New  England ;  and  the  town  of  Boston  is  now  in 
vested  on  all  sides,  and  thus  is  the  whole  royal  army 
reduced  to  the  humble  condition  of  a  besieged  garri 
son.  The  situation  of  the  inhabitants  is  deplorable ; 
a  considerable  proportion  of  the  most  affluent  have 
removed  into  the  country  ;  but  others,  from  various 
circumstances,  are  compelled  to  remain  and  suffer 
all  the  calamities  of  a  besieged  town  and  precarious 
subsistence.  Instances  indeed  are  not  wanting  of 
members  of  families  being  torn  from  each  other, 
women  and  children  flying  from  their  husbands  and 
parents,  under  the  most  afflictive  and  destitute  cir 
cumstances. 

We  are  now  experiencing  a  singular  kind  of  In 
terregnum  in  our  Province ;  more  than  a  year  has 
elapsed  without  any  legal  government,  or  any  regular 
administration  of  law  and  justice. — No  crimes,  how 
ever,  of  an  atrocious  nature  have,  we  believe,  been 
perpetrated  ;  all  classes  of  people  appear  to  be  sub 
missive,  under  the  influence  of  the  principles  of  moral 
rectitude  and  common  justice ;  and  the  resolutions 
and  recommendations  of  Congress  have  all  the  weight 
and  efficacy  of  laws.  Our  domestic  tranquillity  is  in 
some  measure  interrupted  by  a  restless  spirit  among 
the  tories  ;  but  the  great  body  of  the  community  are 
actuated  by  the  glorious  cause  of  our  country's 
freedom.  The  maxim  adopt/ed  by  our  enemies  is, 
" Divide  and  conquer"  We  enjoin  the  command, 
"  Unite  and  be  invincible."  It  is  considered  in 
finitely  important  to  encourage  and  promote  a  more 


22  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775. 

perfect  union  among  the  colonies,  and  harmony  and 
unanimity  among  the  people.  " Liberty  or  death" 
"  Unite  or  die,"  are  the  mottos  which  blazon  the 
chronicles  of  the  day,  and  embellish  the  military 
standards  of  almost  every  militia  company.  The 
man  who  does  not  acquiesce  in  the  theme  of  liberty 
is  marked  by  the  vigilant  eye  of  suspicion,  or  stig 
matized  as  an  enemy  to  his  country.  Liberty  poles 
are  erected  in  almost  every  town  and  village ;  and 
when  a  disaffected  tory  renders  himself  odious,  by 
any  active  conduct,  with  the  view  of  counteracting 
the  public  measures,  he  is  seized  by  a  company  of 
armed  men,  and  conducted  to  the  liberty  pole,  under 
which  he  is  compelled  to  sign  a  recantation,  and 
give  bonds  for  his  future  good  conduct.  In  some 
instances,  of  particular  stubbornness  and  obstinacy, 
individuals  have  been  imprisoned,  or  their  names 
have  been  published  in  the  newspapers  as  enemies 
to  their  country.  It  has  indeed  unfortunately  hap 
pened,  that  a  few  individuals,  in  consequence  of  their 
own  indiscretion,  have  been  the  subjects  of  a  more 
rigorous  procedure.  Having  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  those  whose  zeal  has  transported  them  beyond 
the  bounds  of  moderation,  they  have  received  from 
the  rabble  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers,  and  in  this 
predicament  have  been  exposed  to  the  scoffs  and  rid 
icule  of  the  populace.  Such  examples  have  the 
effect  of  striking  terror  into  the  hearts  of  all  the 
disaffected,  and  of  restraining  the  whole  party  from 
acting  against  the  general  sense  of  the  people.  The 
tories  make  bitter  complaints  against  the  discipline 
which  they  receive  from  the  hands  of  the  whigs ; 
their  language  is,  "  You  make  the  air  resound  with 
the  cry  of  liberty,  but  subject  those  who  differ  from 
you  to  the  humble  condition  of  slaves,  not  permitting 
us  to  act,  or  even  think,  according  to  the  dictates  of 
conscience."  The  reply  is,  "  It  is  one  of  the  first 
principles  of  a  free  government,  that  the  majority 
shall  bear  rule ;  our  majority  is  immensely  large ; 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  23 

we  have  undertaken  the  hazardous  task  of  defending 
the  liberties  of  our  country  against  the  mighty  power 
of  Great  Britian  ;  and  hold  ourselves  responsible  for 
our  conduct.  If  you  possess  not  patriotism  and 
courage  enough  to  unite  your  efforts  with  ours,  it  is 
our  duty  to  put  it  out  of  your  power  to  injure  the 
common  cause.  If  we  are  successful,  your  party  and 
posterity  will  participate  in  the  important  advan 
tages  to  be  derived  from  our  efforts.  If  our  party 
should  be  crushed,  then  will  yours  in  turn  become 
triumphant."  A  small  number  of  our  tories  have 
abandoned  their  homes,  their  families  and  property, 
and  resorted  to  the  standard  of  their  royal  master 
in  Boston ;  consoling  themselves  in  the  confident 
expectation  of  an  ample  reward,  and  a  triumphant 
restoration.  The  clergymen  of  New  England  are, 
almost  without  exception,  advocates  of  whig  princi 
ples  ;  there  are  a  few  instances  only  of  the  separation 
of  a  minister  from  his  people,  in  consequence  of  a 
disagreement  in  political  sentiment.  The  tories 
censure,  in  a  very  illiberal  manner,  the  preacher 
who  speaks  boldly  for  the  liberties  of  the  people, 
while  they  lavish  their  praises  on  him  who  dares  to 
teach  the  absurd  doctrine,  that  magistrates  have  a 
divine  right  to  do  wrong,  and  are  to  be  implicitly 
obeyed.  It  is  recommended  by  our  Provincial  Con 
gress,  that  on  other  occasions  than  the  sabbath,  min 
isters  of  parishes  adapt  their  discourses  to  the  times, 
and  explain  the  nature  of  civil  and  religious  liberty, 
and  the  duties  of  magistrates  and  rulers.  Accord 
ingly,  we  have  from  our  pulpits  the  most  fervent  and 
pious  effusions  to  the  throne  of  Divine  Grace  in  be 
half  of  our  bleeding,  afflicted  country.  A  zealous 
divine,  who  has  been  compelled  to  abandon  the  people 
of  his  charge  in  Boston,  on  one  occasion  used,  in  the 
pulpit  at  P#*#,  the  following  emphatical  language. 
"Oh  !  Lord,  if  our  enemies  will  fight  us,  let  them  have 
fighting  enough.  If  more  soldiers  are  on  their  way 
hither,  sink  them,  0  Lord,  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea," 


24  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

Every  heart  seemed  ready  to  respond,  "Amen,  yea, 
let  them  have  fighting  enough." 

June  14th. — General  Gage  has  issued  a  proclama 
tion  declaring  the  province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  to 
be  in  a  state  of  rebellion,  offering  a  pardon  to  all  who 
will  resort  to  his  standard,  and  denouncing  the  penalty 
of  martial  law  on  all  those  who  refuse  to  submit  to 
his  authority,  or  who  shall  be  found  aiding  or  corres 
ponding  with  such  as  he  has  designated  as  unpardon 
able  rebels  and  traitors.  He  has  been  pleased  to 
proscribe  by  name,  Mr.  John  Hancock  and  Mr.  Sam 
uel  Adams,  as  objects  of  his  exemplary  vengeance. 
Yet,  singular  as  it  may  appear,  this  same  authorized 
Governor,  and  General  in  Chief  of  the  royal  army,  is 
now  cooped  up  in  the  town  of  Boston,  panting  for  a 
country  airing,  of  which  he  is  debarred  by  his  de 
nounced  rebels. 

We  are  again  shocked  by  intelligence  that  a  ter 
rible  battle  has  been  fought  between  the  British  reg 
ulars  and  the  American  soldiers,  on  Bunker,  or 
rather  Breed's  hill,  in  Charlestown,  near  Boston,  on 
the  17th  instant.  The  report  states  that  the  whole 
town  of  Charlestown  is  burnt  to  ashes  by  the  enemy, 
and  that  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  lately  appointed  Major 
General  in  our  army,  is  killed ;  and  that  several  hun 
dreds  of  our  soldiers  are  killed  and  wounded.  The 
battle,  it  is  said,  was  extremely  severe  and  destruc 
tive  ;  but  the  provincial  troops  displayed  the  greatest 
courage  and  bravery,  in  the  face  of  the  regulars,  and 
have  obtained  immortal  honor.  The  British  were 
several  times  defeated  before  they  took  possession  of 
our  works,  and  have  suffered  a  loss  of  more  than  a 
thousand  of  their  best  troops ;  among  whom  are  a 
large  proportion  of  their  most  valuable  officers. 
They  are  now  taught  that  Americans  can  bid  defi 
ance  to  royal  regulars,  when  called  to  defend  their 
freedom.  The  situation  of  our  country  is  truly  de 
plorable,  a  civil  war  at  our  doors ;  our  neighbors, 
our  fathers  and  brothers,  called  from  their  families  to 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1775.  25 

encounter  an  inexorable  enemy  consisting  indeed 
of  brethren  and  kindred ;  our  domestic  peace  and 
welfare  cruelly  interrupted,  and  the  aspect  of  our 
public  affairs  gloomy  in  the  extreme.  All  New 
England  has  become  a  theatre  of  military  array ;  and 
every  member  of  the  community  manifests  the  deep 
est  concern  for  the  great  calamities,  with  which  the 
country  is  afflicted,  by  the  tyrannical  measures  of  a 
corrupt  administration.  In  the  favor  of  Heaven  and 
the  wisdom  of  our  Congress  we  repose  all  our  hope 
and  confidence.  Participating,  I  trust,  in  the  glori 
ous  spirit  of  the  times,  and  contemplating  improve 
ment  in  my  professional  pursuits,  motives  of  patrio 
tism  and  private  interest  prompt  me  to  hazard  my 
fortune  in  this  noble  conflict,  with  my  brethren  in 
the  Provincial  army.  From  the  critical  and  embar 
rassed  situation  of  our  country,  numerous  and  almost 
insurmountable  difficulties  are  opposed  to  my  view  ; 
and  I  am  too  young  to  possess  a  maturity  of  judgment, 
but  yet  unable  to  resist  the  impulse  of  enthusiasm 
which  characterizes  the  times.  My  friends  afford 
me  no  encouragement,  alleging,  that  as  this  is  a  civil 
war,  if  I  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  British  the 
gallows  will  be  my  fate.  The  terrors  of  the  gallows 
are  not  to  be  conquered,  but  I  must  indulge  the  hope 
that  I  may  escape  it.  Hundreds  of  my  superiors  may 
take  their  turn  before  mine  shall  come.  The  tories 
assail  me  with  the  following  powerful  arguments. 
"Young  man,  are  you  sensible  you  are  about  to  violate 
your  duty  to  the  best  of  kings,  and  run  headlong  into 
destruction?  Be  assured  that  this  rebellion  will  be 
of  short  duration.  The  royal  army  is  all  powerful, 
and  will,  in  a  few  months,  march  through  the  country 
and  bring  all  to  subjection ;  for  they  are  experienced 
in  war  and  expert  in  discipline.  Their  fleet  is  able  to 
destroy  every  seaport  town  and  beat  down  all  our 
cities.  There  remains  no  rational  alternative  but  a 
reconciliation  and  renewed  obedience  to  our  lawful 
government;  or  we  shall  soon  experience  their  just 
4 


26  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775. 

vengeance.  What  is  your  army  but  an  undisciplined 
rabble?  Can  they  stand  against  an  army  of  regulars? 
where  are  your  cannon,  your  fire  arms,  your  bayonets, 
and  all  your  implements  of  war?  above  all,  where  is 
your  treasure,  and  where  can  you  look  for  a  barrel 
of  gun  powder?  the  whole  country  can  scarcely 
afford  a  sufficiency  for  a  battle  of  an  hour."  Not  a 
small  portion  of  their  reasoning  I  feel  to  be  just  and 
true.  I  am  not  certain,  however,  but  much  of  it 
may  prove  erroneous.  The  result  of  the  late  battle 
at  Charlestown  should  convince  the  most  incredulous 
tory,  that  our  soldiers  will  face  the  regular  troops, 
and  that  we  are  blessed  with  the  smiles  of  Heaven  on 
our  exertions.  It  would  be  presumption  in  me  to 
determine  as  to  possibilities  and  prospects ;  but  the 
voice  of  liberty  cannot  be  stifled,  while  the  welfare 
and  happiness  of  more  than  three  millions  of  people 
now  in  America,  and  of  unborn  millions,  are  involved 
in  the  issue.  Our  rulers  are  the  most  competent 
judges,  and  under  their  banners  I  shall  venture, 
I  hope  not  rashly,  to  enlist,  and  trust  my  destiny  in 
the  hands  of  a  kind  and  overruling  Providence.  My 
contemplated  enterprise,  it  is  true,  requires  the  ex 
perience  and  resolution  of  riper  years  than  tweny  one, 
and  qualifications,  which  I  do  not  possess,  to  ingratiate 
myself  with  strangers  and  those  in  authority.  Hav 
ing  consulted  Joseph  Otis,  Esq.  of  Barnstable,  on  this 
occasion,  he  immediately  applauded  my  enterprise, 
and  politely  furnished  me  with  a  letter  to  his  brother- 
in-law^  James  Warren,  Esq.  of  Plymouth,  who  is 
President  of  our  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown. 
Imagination  could  not  fail  to  paint  my  prospects  in 
bright  colors,  and  I  proceeded,  July  the  3d,  with 
alacrity  to  the  seat  of  Congress.  I  was  not  disap 
pointed  in  my  interview  with  Mr.  Warren ;  my 
letter  procured  for  me  a  favorable  and  polite  recep 
tion.  He  honored  me  with  his  friendship  and  kind 
assistance,  and  introduced  me  to  his  lady,  whose 
father's  family  and  my  own,  have  for  many  years 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775.  27 

been  on  terms  of  friendly  intercourse.  The  office 
which  I  solicit  is  one  in  the  medical  department,  in 
the  provincial  hospital  at  Cambridge.  A  medical 
board,  consisting  of  Drs.  Holton  and  Taylor,  are 
appointed  to  examine  the  candidates ;  and  they  added 
my  name  to  the  list  for  examination,  on  the  10th 
instant.  This  state  of  suspense  continuing  several 
days,  excites  in  my  mind  much  anxiety  and  solicitude, 
apprehending  that  my  stock  of  medical  knowledge, 
when  scanned  by  a  learned  committee,  may  be  deemed 
inadequate,  and  all  my  hopes  be  blasted.  While  on 
my  journey,  a  visit  of  a  few  days  to  my  friends  at 
Plymouth,  gave  me  an  opportunity  to  pay  my  res 
pects  to  the  rock9  which  received  the  first  footsteps 
of  our  venerated  forefathers.  The  inhabitants  of 
this  ancient  town,  from  a  reverence  for  the  memory 
of  the  virtuous  band  of  brothers  from  whom  we  de 
rive  our  origin,  have  lately  with  commendable  zeal 
and  much  labor,  split  off  the  upper  portion  of  the 
rock,  and  removed  it  to  a  public  square  near  the 
church  and  court  house.  This  rock,  with  its  associa 
tions,  would  seem  almost  capable  of  imparting  that 
love  of  country,  and  that  moral  virtue,  which  our 
times  so  much  require.  We  seem  holding  converse 
with  the  celestial  spirits,  and  receiving  monition  from 
those  who  are  at  rest  in  their  graves.  Have  these 
ancient  sages  bequeathed  their  mantle  to  posterity  ? 
Can  we  set  our  feet  on  their  rock  without  swearing, 
by  the  spirit  of  our  fathers,  to  defend  it  and  our 
country  ?  If  we  reflect  on  their  matchless  enterprise, 
their  fortitude,  and  their  sufferings,  we  must  be  in 
spired  with  the  spirit  of  patriotism,  and  the  most 
invincible  heroism.  Unappalled  by  the  dangers  of 
unknown  seas,  and  the  perils  and  the  hardships  of 
a  savage  wilderness,  they  left  their  native  country 
and  undertook  a  settlement  which  promises,  through 
ages,  to  remain  the  rich  abode  of  knowledge,  religion, 
virtue  and  freedom.  Let  us  then  cherish  a  becoming 
sense  of  the  exalted  privileges  inherited  from  our 


28  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

ancestors,  and  resolve  to  defend   them   against   all 
attempts  of  a  corrupt  administration. 

July. — I   improve   the   interim  of  my  suspense 
to  record  an   authentic   narrative  of  the  battle,  on 
Breed's  hill,  on  the  17th  of  June.     Intelligence  had 
been  received  that  it  was  the  intention  of  General 
Gage  to  post  a  part  of  his  troops,  within  a  few  days, 
on  a  promontory  just  at  the  entrance  of  the  penin 
sula   at  Charlestown,  called  Bunker's   hill.     It   was 
deemed   important  that  our  troops   should   possess 
themselves  of  this  eminence,  before  the  enemy  could 
occupy  it.     Accordingly  orders  were  given  to  Colonel 
Prescott  a  veteran  of  the  last  war,  with  one  thousand 
men  to  march  silently  in  the  evening  of  the  16th 
of  June,  and  throw  up  some  intrenchments  on  the 
height  of  Bunkers   hill.      By  some   mistake  they 
took  possession  of  Breed's  hill,  which  being  about 
one  fourth  of  a  mile  nearer  Boston,  was  less  capable 
of  being  defended.     From  some  cause,  the  detach 
ment  was  delayed  in  their  labor,  till  12  o'clock ;  but 
such  was  their  alacrity,  that  before   day  light  they 
had  formed  a  small  redoubt  and  some  imperfect  line 
of  defence.     About  4  o'clock  in  the  morning  the 
British  were  astonished  to  behold  the  works  which 
had  been  thrown  up  in  a  single  night,  within  a  short 
distance  of  their  vessels,  without   giving   the  least 
alarm.     They  immediately  commenced  a  tremendous 
cannonade  from  their  shipping,  their  floating  batte 
ries,  and  from  all  their  fortifications,  which  could 
have  a  bearing  on  the  American  works.     Bombs  and 
shot  were  incessantly  rolling  among  the  provincials 
during  the  forenoon,   till  the  royal  grenadiers  and 
light  infantry  could  be  prepared  to  make  their  for 
midable  attack ;    yet  one  man  only  was  killed  ;  and 
the  Americans  courageously  persevered  in  strength 
ening  their  works.     They  received  in  the  course  of 
the  forenoon  a  small  reinforcement,  which  augmented 
their  number  to  about  fifteen  hundred,  and  this  was 
not  much  exceeded  during  the  day  of  battle.     It  was 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775,.  29 

by  an  unaccountable  error  that  tbose  people,  who 
had  been  laboring  all  the  night,  were  not  relieved 
by  others,  nor  even  furnished  with  provisions  before 
the  battle.    Generals  Putnam,  Warren  and  Pome- 
roy,  animated  and  encouraged  the  troops  with  their 
presence.      At  about  1  o'clock,  17th  of  June,  the 
royal  forces  were  observed  to  cross  the  river  from 
Boston,   and   land   on   the    shore   at    Charlestown ; 
at  the  head  of  these  veterans  were  Major  General 
Howe   and   Brigadier  General   Pigot ;    their  force 
consisted  of  about  three  thousand  men,  well  provid 
ed  with  field  artillery.     They  formed  in  two  lines, 
their  officers  haranging  them  probably  in  such  lan 
guage  as  this.     "  Those  cowardly  rebels  must  and 
shall  be  put  to  flight.     See  the  dastardly  Yankees 
with  rusty  guns  and  scarcely  a  bayonet  among  them. 
March  on,  my  lads,  march  on,  show  them  that  you 
are  Britons ;  show  them  these  dazzling  arms,  and 
bayonets  bright  and  sharp,  and  you  shall  soon  see 
them  take  to  their  heels  and  run."     Hear  the  voice 
of  Putnam,   of  Prescott   and  Warren.      "  See    my 
brave  soldiers  that  phalanx  approaching  ;  these  lines 
must   and   shall  be  defended ;  these  are  the  cruel 
enemies  to  your  freedom  ;  they  have  come  to  enslave 
you  ;    remember   their  barbarous   murders   of   our 
friends  at  Lexington ;   fight  manfully,  and  they  shall 
be  vanquished,  reserve  your  fire  till  their  near  ap 
proach  ;  then  with  a  sure  aim  cut  them  down,  cut 
them  down,  and  the  victory  shall  be  ours."     The 
regulars  deliberately  advance  to  the  attack,  the  gren 
adiers  in  front.     The  Americans  reserve  their  fire  till 
the  enemy  are  within  eight  or  ten  rods,  that  they  may 
do  effectual  execution  ;  when,  by  a  general  discharge 
of  musketry  and  field  artillery,  several  officers  and 
men  are  seen  to  fall,  « their  ranks  are  thinned ;  see 
the  ground  covered  with  the  slain  ;  see  those  wound 
ed  officers  borne  off  the  field."     The  conflict  be 
comes  close,  and  such  are  the  fatal  effects  of  the 
incessant  and  furious  discharge  of  our  musketry,  that 


30  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

the  regulars  retreat  in  disorder  and  many  of  them 
flee  even  to  their  boats.  The  officers  greatly  agitat 
ed  pursue  their  men  and  threaten  them  with  their 
swords  ;  with  great  difficulty  they  are  rallied,  and 
commanded  to  advance  again  to  the  attack.  The 
provincials  are  prepared,  and  when  sufficiently  near,  a 
deadly  fire  from  their  ranks  puts  the  enemy  a  second 
time  to  flight,  leaving  such  numbers  of  dead  and 
wounded  that  several  of  their  officers  exclaim,  "  It 
is  downright  butchery  to  lead  the  men  on  afresh 
against  the  lines."  At  this  critical  moment  Major 
General  Clinton,  who  till  now  had  been  a  spectator 
with  General  Burgoyne  on  Copp's  hill  in  Boston, 
passed  over  and  entered  the  field,  just  in  time  to 
unite  his  efforts  with  those  of  the  other  officers  for 
the  purpose  of  forcing  the  regulars  to  renew  the 
attack.  The  Americans  still  remain  firm  and  coura 
geous  at  their  posts ;  but  unfortunately  it  was  now 
discovered  that  their  powder  was  nearly  expended, 
and  another  supply  could  not  be  procured.  The 
enemy  now  change  the  position  of  their  cannon  and 
place  them  in  a  situation  to  rake  the  inside  of  our 
breast  work  in  its  whole  course,  which  at  length 
obliges  the  provincials  to  retire  within  their  little 
redoubt.  The  firing  from  the  British  ships,  and 
other  armed  vessels  and  batteries,  is  now  pushed  to 
the  utmost  extremity  ;  the  regulars  are  impelled 
forward  by  their  officers,  and  our  redoubt  is  attacked 
on  three  sides  at  the  same  time.  Our  brave  men 
continue  their  resistance,  and  actually  confront  the 
enemy  with  the  butt  end  of  their  muskets  after  they 
had  entered  the  fort.  A  party  of  our  men  under 
command  of  Captain  Knowlton  had  taken  up  a  post 
and  rail  fence,  and  placing  it  against  another,  filled 
the  vacancy  with  newly  mowed  hay,  which  served 
as  a  slight  defence.  The  British  light  infantry  at 
tempted  to  force  this  little  party  from  their  stand, 
and  by  this  means  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  our  troops. 
In  this  they  displayed  the  greatest  bravery,  but  their 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  31 

opposers  poured  forth  their  reserved  and  formidable 
fire  in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  astonishing  execu 
tion,  and  to  arrest  their  progress,  till  the  whole  of 
the  Americans  could  effect  a  retreat.  The  narrow 
neck  of  land  over  which  alone  the  provincials  could 
retire,  was  so  securely  guarded  by  a  man  of  war  and 
two  floating  batteries,  as  to  render  it  extremely 
hazardous  to  pass  over ;  but  notwithstanding  their  in 
cessant  firing,  our  loss  there  was  quite  inconsiderable. 
The  provincials  were  obliged  to  leave  five  pieces  of 
field  artillery  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  finding  it 
impossible  to  remove  them.  But  a  loss  infinitely  to 
be  lamented,  and  which  occasions  universal  grief  and 
sorrow,  is  that  of  Major  General  Joseph  Warren. 
This  distinguished  patriot  and  hero  was,  but  a  few 
days  before,  appointed  by  Congress  to  the  rank  of 
Major  General  in  our  army.  Such  was  his  zeal  and 
ardor  that  he  rushed  into  the  battle  foremost  in 
danger  with  his  musket,  and  encouraged  the  soldiers 
by  his  example,  till  near  the  close  of  the  battle,  when 
he  received  a  fatal  shot  and  immediately  expired. 
The  loss  at  this  crisis  of  a  man  possessing  so  much 
public  virtue  and  military  ardor  is  almost  irreparable. 
But  the  valor  with  which  he  is  signalized  reflects 
glory  on  his  memory.  It  yet  remains  to  mention 
that  on  this  ever  memorable  day,  just  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  battle,  General  Howe  ordered  the 
handsome  town  of  Charlestown  to  be  set  on  fire,  that 
the  smoke  might  conceal  their  manoeuvres.  The 
town  consisted  of  upwards  of  three  hundred  dwelling 
houses,  some  of  them  elegant,  and  about  two  hundred 
buildings  of  other  descriptions,  which  contained  prop 
erty  and  goods  to  a  large  amount,  belonging  to  the 
distressed  inhabitants  of  Boston.  Fire  was  commu 
nicated  to  a  number  of  houses,  which,  being  wafted 
by  the  wind,  soon  reached  the  sacred  temple,  when 
the  flames  issued  from  its  lofty  spire ;  while  from  the 
conflagration  and  the  embattled  field,  smoke  mingled 
with  smoke  in  majestic  columns,  and  ascended  to  the 


32  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

clouds.  This,  with  the  roaring  of  cannon,  sheets  of 
fire  from  the  musketry,  and  the  awful  slaughter, 
formed  a  spectacle  which  for  sublimity  and  grandeur 
has  never  perhaps  been  exceeded.  This  most  dread 
ful  scene,  with  all  its  concomitant  horrors,  was  within 
view  of  a  vast  concourse  of  agonized  spectators,  posted 
on  the  tops  of  houses  and  steeples  in  Boston,  and  on 
numerous  surrounding  hills,  hundreds  of  whom  were 
trembling  for  the  fate  of  a  parent,  a  husband  or  a 
brother.  Well  might  a  devout  person  exclaim,  Good 
Heavens !  what  a  scene  do  I  behold !  what  carnage 
of  the  human  race !  what  sacrifice  of  precious  life. 
My  God  !  stay  thy  hand,  restrain  a  further  effusion 
of  human  blood,  spare  the  innocent,  let  punishment 
fall  on  the  heads  of  the  guilty.  Is  there  not  some 
hidden  curse  in  reserve  for  our  country's  foes  !  At 
the  head  of  the  British  army  General  Howe  advanc 
ed  with  undaunted  bravery,  continually  pressing  into 
the  most  exposed  situation.  It  is  truly  wonderful 
that  he  escaped  with  only  a  wound  in  his  foot.  The 
valiant  Major  Pitcairn,  who  was  so  conspicuously 
active  at  Lexington,  was  among  the  first  who  mount 
ed  our  breast  works,  and  at  the  moment  when  he  was 
heard  to  exclaim,  "  the  day  is  ours,"  the  fatal  ball 
pierced  his  body  and  he  fell.  His  son,  a  Captain, 
received  him  in  his  arms,  with  all  the  ardor  of 
filial  love  and  tender  sympathy,  and  bore  him  to  the 
boat  where  he  expired.  On  the  American  side,  Gen 
erals  Putnam,  Warren,  Pomeroy,  and  Colonel  Prescott 
were  emphatically  the  heroes  of  the  day,  and  their 
unexampled  efforts  were  crowned  with  glory.  The 
incomparable  Colonel  Prescott  marched  at  the  head  of 
the  detachment,  and  though  several  general  officers 
were  present,  he  retained  the  command  during  the 
action.  He  displayed  a  native  daring  bravery  alto 
gether  unrivalled,  and  infused  the  conquering  spirit 
of  a  soldier  into  the  hearts  of  all  who  were  under  his 
command,  and  crowned  himself  with  immortal  honor. 
Colonel  John  Stark  commanded  a  regiment  from 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  3& 

New  Hampshire,  and  signalized  himself  by  his  ac 
tive  bravery.  His  very  valiant  Major  McClary  was 
killed  by  a  cannon  ball  while  recrossing  Charlestown 
neck,  which  is  lamented  as  a  public  loss.  On  this 
never  to  be  forgotten  occasion  a  fair  opportunity  was 
presented  for  the  trial  of  the  courage  and  prowess 
of  the  people  of  New  England,  when  contending 
for  their  constitutional  freedom.  They  marched  to 
the  field  as  an  undisciplined,  inexperienced  body  of 
yeomanry,  rather  than  as  professed  warriors ;  a  large 
*  majority  of  them  carrying  ordinary  fire  arms,  un.- 
provided  with  bayonets,  and  habited  in  the  style  of 
country  laborers.  It  was  their  lot  to  contend  with 
an  army  of  disciplined  veterans,  professedly  experi 
enced  in  the  art  of  warfare,  uniformly  clothed  and 
armed,  and  commanded  by  generals  whose  names, 
even  in  Europe,  are  little  less  than  a  host. 

The  comparative  force  of   the  two    armies   was 
about  two    to  one,  against  the  provincials,  besides 
the  royal  artillery   ships,  and  other  armed  vessels. 
What  in  fact  is  the  result  of  this  most  unequal  com 
bat?  Certain  it  is,  that  on  the  first  and  the  second 
onset,  the  veterans  were  fairly  repulsed,  and  whatever 
advantage  was  ultimately  obtained,  was  at  the  ex 
pense  of  some  of  their  most  valuable  officers,  and  the 
flower  of  the  British  grenadiers  and  light  infantry. 
These  two  corps,  at  the  moment  of  their  first  onset, 
lost  three  fourths  of  their  number ;  of  one  company 
five,  and  of  another,  fourteen  only  escaped.      The 
remarkable  disparity  of  loss  is  a  clear  demonstration 
of  the  superior  advantage  on  our  side.     It  is  an  ascer 
tained  fact,  that  of  the  enemy  nineteen  commissioned 
officers  were  killed,  and  seventy  wounded ;  and  their 
total  loss,  according  to  General  Gage,  was  one  thousand 
and  fifty  four.    Of  the  provincials,  the  killed  and  dead 
of  their  wounds,  are  one  hundred  and  thirty  nine. 
Other    wounded,  two    hundred   and   seventy  eight. 
Prisoners  by  the  enemy  thirty  six.     Total  four  hun 
dred  and  fifty  three.     The  provincials  have  much 
5 


34  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775. 

reason  to  triumph  on  the  successful  issue  of  this  first 
general  conflict  with  veteran  troops ;  it  must  tend 
greatly  to  increase  their  confidence  in  their  own 
powers,  and  give  them  a  serious  impression  that  we 
are  favored  with  the  smiles  of  Heaven.  Had  our 
troops  been  furnished  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of 
ammunition,  the  enemy  must  have  suffered  a  total 
defeat.  After  our  troops  retreated,  the  regulars 
took  possession  of  their  dear  hought  Bunker's  hill, 
and  immediately  fortified  themselves  there.  It  is 
said  that  some  of  the  veteran  British  officers,  who 
have  been  in  some  hard  fought  battles  in  Europe, 
observed,  that  they  had  never  witnessed  any  one 
equal  in  severity  to  that  on  Breed's  hill.  It  is  pre 
sumed  they  will  no  longer  apply  the  term  paltroons 
to  American  soldiers.  A  considerable  number  of 
tories,  whose  zeal  for  the  royal  cause  led  them  into 
battle,  were  killed  or  wounded.  Our  army  has  taken 
post  at  Cambridge  and  Roxbury,  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  invest  the  town  of  Boston.  Our  general  officers 
are  Generals  Ward,  Pomeroy,  Thomas  and  Heath, 
of  Massachusetts  colony,  and  General  Putnam  from 
Connecticut. 

On  the  day\ippointed,  the  medical  candidates,  six 
teen  in  number,  were  summoned  before  the  board 
for  examination.  This  business  occupied  about  four 
hours ;  the  subjects  were  anatomy,  physiology,  sur 
gery  and  medicine.  It  was  not  long  after,  that  I  was 
happily  relieved  from  suspense,  by  receiving  the 
sanction  and  acceptance  of  the  board,  with  some  ac 
ceptable  instructions  relative  to  the  faithful  discharge 
of  duty,  and  the  humane  treatment  of  those  soldiers 
who  may  have  the  misfortune  to  require  my  assistance. 
Six  of  our  number  were  privately  rejected  as  being 
found  unqualified.  The  examination  was  in  a  consid 
erable  degree  close  and  severe,  which  occasioned  not 
a  little  agitation  in  our  ranks.  But  it  was  on  another 
occasion,  as  I  am  told,  that  a  candidate  under  exami 
nation  was  agitated  into  a  state  of  perspiration,  and 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  35 

being  required  to  describe  the  mode  of  treatment  in 
rheumatism,  among  other  remedies  he  would  promote 
a  sweat,  and  being  asked  how  he  would  eftect  this 
with  his  patient,  after  some  hesitation  he  replied, 
"  I  would  have  him  examined  by  a  medical  com 
mittee."  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  the  office 
of  surgeon's  mate  in  the  provincial  hospital  at  Cam 
bridge,  Dr.  John  Warren  being  the  senior  surgeon. 
He  was  the  brother  and  pupil  of  the  gallant  General 
Joseph  Warren,  who  was  slain  in  the  memorable 
battle  on  Breed's  hill.  This  gentleman  has  acquired 
great  reputation  in  his  profession,  and  is  distinguish 
ed  for  his  humanity  and  attention  to  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers,  and  for  his  amiable  disposition. 
Having  received  my  appointment  by  the  Provincial 
Congress,  I  commenced  my  duty  in  the  hospital,  July 
15th.  Several  private,  but  commodious  houses  in 
Cambridge  are  occupied  for  hospitals,  and  a  con 
siderable  number  of  soldiers  who  were  wounded  at 
Breed's  hill,  and  a  greater  number  of  sick  of  various 
diseases,  require  all  our  attention.  Dr.  Isaac  Foster, 
late  of  Charlestown,  is  also  appointed  a  senior  hos 
pital  surgeon ;  and  his  student,  Mr.  Josiah  Bartlet, 
officiates  as  his  mate ;  Dr.  Benjamin  Church  is  Direc 
tor  General  of  the  hospital. 

I  am  informed  that  General  George  Washington 
arrived  at  our  provincial  camp,  in  this  town,  on  the 
2d  July  ;  having  been  appointed,  by  the  unanimous 
voice  of  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia, 
General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  all  the  troops 
raised,  and  to  be  raised,  for  the  defence  of  the  United 
Colonies,  as  they  are  now  termed.  They  are,  New 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecti 
cut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
and  Georgia.  General  Washington  is  a  native  of  Vir 
ginia  ;  he  was  in  General  Braddock's  defeat  in  1755, 
and  having  had  considerable  experience  in  the  wars 
with  the  French  arid  Indians  on  the  frontiers  of  that 


36  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

colony,  in  former  years, — he  is  supposed  to  possess 
ample  qualifications  for  the  command  of  our  army,  and 
the  appointment  gives  universal  satisfaction.  Such  is 
his  disinterested  patriotism,  that  he  assured  Congress, 
on  his  appointment,  that  he  should  receive  from  the 
public,  for  his  military  services,  no  other  compensa 
tion  than  the  amount  of  his  necessary  expenses.  He 
has  been  received  here  with  every  mark  of  respect, 
and  addressed  by  our  Provincial  Congress  in  the  most 
affectionate  and  respectful  manner.  All  ranks  ap 
pear  to  repose  full  confidence  in  him  as  Commander 
in  Chief  ;  it  is  the  fervent  prayer  of  the  religiously 
disposed,  that  he  may  be  instrumental  in  bringing 
this  unhappy  controversy  to  an  honorable  and  speedy 
termination.  He  is  accompanied  by  General  Lee  and 
General  Gates  ;  two  gentlemen  who  have  held  com 
missions  in  the  royal  army.  The  former  is  now  ap 
pointed  Major  General,  and  the  latter  Adjutant  Gene 
ral,  by  our  Continental  Congress.  General  Washing 
ton  has  established  his  head-quarters  in  a  convenient 
house,  about  half  a  mile  from  Harvard  College,  and 
in  the  vicinity  of  our  hospital.  The  provincial  army 
is  encamped  in  various  parts  of  this  town  and  Rox- 
bury,  and  some  works  have  been  erected  on  Prospect 
Hill,  and  on  an  eminence  near  Roxbury  church, 
within  cannon  shot  of  Boston.  The  amount  of  our 
forces  I  have  not  ascertained ;  but  we  are  daily  in 
creasing  in  numbers,  both  of  militia  and  enlisted  sol 
diers.  The  operations  of  the  war  have  interrupted 
the  progress  of  education  at  college ;  the  students 
have  returned  to  their  homes,  and  the  college  build 
ings  are  occupied  by  our  soldiery. 

July  20lh. — This  day  is  devoted  to  a  Public  Fast 
throughout  the  United  Colonies,  by  the  recommenda 
tion  of  Congress,  to  implore  the  Divine  benediction 
on  our  country  ;  that  any  further  shedding  of  blood 
may  be  averted  ;  and  that  the  calamities  with  which 
we  are  afflicted  may  be  removed.  This  is  the  first 
General  or  Continental  Fast  ever  observed  since  the 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  37 

settlement  of  the  colonies.  I  have  been  much  grati 
fied  this  day  with  a  view  of  General  Washington. 
His  Excellency  was  on  horseback,  in  company  with 
several  military  gentlemen.  It  was  not  difficult  to 
distinguish  him  from  all  others  ;  his  personal  appear 
ance  is  truly  noble  and  majestic  ;  being  tall  and  well 
proportioned.  His  dress  is  a  blue  coat  with  buff 
colored  facings,  a  rich  epaulette  on  each  shoulder, 
buff  under  dress,  and  an  elegant  small  sword ;  a  black 
cockade  in  his  hat. 

August. — The  firing  of  cannon  is  now  frequently 
practised  from  our  works  at  Prospect  Hill  and  Winter 
Hill,  advantageous  eminences  in  full  view  and  within 
cannon  shot  of  the  enemy's  camp  on  Bunker's  Hill ; 
and  some  shot  are  returned  from  the  enemy ;  but 
without  any  considerable  loss.  At  Roxbury  also  our 
people  have  fortified  several  hills,  and  breast  works 
are  thrown  up  across  the  main  street,  within  half  a 
mile  of  the  British  lines ;  from  which  cannon  shot 
and  some  bomb  shells  are  every  day  thrown  into 
Boston.  The  enemy  fire  their  cannon  shot  into  Rox 
bury,  and  several  have  passed  through  the  church ; 
but  little  damage  has  yet  been  sustained,  and  our 
soldiers  become  so  familiarized  to  the  sight  of  cannon 
shot  rolling  among  them,  that  they  manifest  little  or 
no  fear  of  the  consequences.  The  right  wing  of  our 
army  at  Roxbury  is  commanded  by  Major  General 
Ward;  and  the  left,  at  Prospect  Hill,  by  Major 
General  Lee. 

The  Continental  Congress  having  voted,  "  That  a 
sum  not  exceeding  two  millions  of  Spanish'  milled 
dollars  be  emitted  by  them  in  bills  of  credit  for  the 
defence  of  America"  gold  and  silver  soon  disappear* 
ed,  and  paper  bills  now  circulate  instead  of  specie. 

Several  companies  of  riflemen,  amounting,  it  is 
said,  to  more  than  fourteen  hundred  men,  have 
arrived  here  from  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland ;  a 
distance  of  from  five  hundred  to  seven  hundred  miles. 
They  are  remarkably  stout  and  hardy  men  ;  many  of 


38  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

them  exceeding  six  feet  in  height.  They  are  dressed 
in  white  frocks,  or  rifle  shirts,  and  round  hats.  These 
men  are  remarkable  for  the  accuracy  of  their  aim ; 
striking  a  mark  with  great  certainty  at  two  hundred 
yards  distance.  At  a  review,  a  company  of  them, 
while  on  a  quick  advance,  fired  their  balls  into  ob 
jects  of  seven  inches  diameter,  at  the  distance  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards.  They  are  now  stationed  on. 
our  lines,  and  their  shot  have  frequently  proved  fatal 
to  British  officers  and  soldiers,  who  expose  them 
selves  to  view,  even  at  more  than  double  the  distance 
of  common  musket  shot. 

October. — An  event  of  considerable  importance 
has  occurred,  which  occasions  much  surprise  and 
speculation.  Dr.  Benjamin  Church  has  long  sustain 
ed  high  reputation  as  a  patriot  and  son  of  liberty. 
He  has,  for  some  time,  been  a  member  of  our  House 
of  Representatives ;  and  has  been  appointed  Surgeon 
General  and  Director  of  our  Hospitals.  This  gentle 
man  has  just  been  detected  in  a  traitorous  corres 
pondence  with  the  enemy  in  Boston.  A  letter  in 
cipher,  written  by  him,  was  intrusted  to  the  care  of 
a  female,  with  whom  he  was  well  acquainted,  to  be 
conveyed  to  Boston.  On  examination,  the  woman 
absolutely  refused  to  reveal  the  name  of  the  writer, 
till  she  was  terrified  by  the  threats  of  severe  punish 
ment  ;  when  she  named  Dr.  Church,  he  was  greatly 
agitated  and  confounded,  manifested  marks  of  guilt, 
and  made  no  attempt  to  vindicate  himself.  But  after 
the  letter  was  deciphered,  and  he  had  taken  time  to 
reflect,  he  used  all  his  powers  of  persuasion  to  make 
it  appear  that  the  letter  contained  no  information  that 
would  injure  the  American  cause ;  and  made  a  solemn 
appeal  to  heaven  that  it  was  written  for  the  purpose 
of  procuring  some  important  intelligence  from  the 
enemy.  He  was  tried,  convicted,  and  expelled  from 
the  House  of  Representatives ;  and  Congress  after 
wards  resolved,  "  that  he  be  closely  confined  in  some 
secure  jail  in  Connecticut,  without  the  use  of  pen, 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775.  39 

ink,  or  paper;  and  that  no  person  be  allowed  to 
converse  with  him,  except  in  the  presence  and  hear 
ing  of  a  magistrate,  or  the  sheriff  of  the  county."* 

I  have  just  returned  from  a  ramble  to  Roxbury, 
with  a  view  of  examining  the  camp  and  works  in  that 
quarter.  Not  meeting  with  any  person  with  whom 
I  am  acquainted,  I  returned  after  a  slight  view  of  the 
lines  and  the  church  in  that  town,  which  is  pierced 
through  in  many  places  by  cannon  shot  from  the 
enemy. 

IQth. — General  Gage  has  sailed  for  England ;  and 
the  command  of  the  army,  has  devolved  on  General 
William  Howe.  He  has  issued  a  proclamation,  pro 
hibiting  all  persons  attempting  to  quit  the  town,  with 
out  a  written  license,  on  penalty  of  military  execu 
tion,  if  taken,  and  if  they  escape  they  are  to  be  pro 
ceeded  against  as  traitors,  and  their  effects  to  be  for 
feited  ;  and  also  declaring,  that  if  any,  who  are 
licensed  to  depart,  attempt  carrying  away  more  than 
five  pounds  in  specie,  they  shall  forfeit  the  whole 
sum  discovered,  beside  suffering  fine  and  imprison 
ment.  Such  is  the  wretched  condition  of  the  Bosto- 
nians  since  their  native  town  has  been  converted  into 
a  royal  garrison.  It  is  recollected  that  in  April  last, 
it  was  agreed  between  General  Gage  and  a  committee 
of  the  town,  that  on  the  inhabitants  in  general  sur 
rendering  up  their  fire  arms  to  the  care  of  the  select 
men,  all  such  inhabitants  as  were  desirous  of  remov 
ing  out  of  town,  should  have  this  liberty,  with  their 
families  and  effects.  The  town  voted  to  comply  with 
this  proposal,  and  General  Gage  on  his  part  confirm 
ed  the  same.  It  was  also  stipulated,  that  those  per 
sons  in  the  country  who  should  incline  to  remove  into 
Boston  should  be  permitted  to  change  their  residence 
without  molestation.  The  fire  arms  were  accordingly 
surrendered,  and  some  of  the  inhabitants  were  allow  - 

*  Dr.  Church  was  finally  permitted  to  depart  from  the  country.  He 
and  his  family  embarked  for  the  West  Indies,  the  vessel  foundered  at 
*ea  and  all  were  lost. 


40  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1775. 

ed  to  depart;  but  it  was  not  long  before  General 
Gage  found  various  pretences  to  violate  his  stipula 
tion,  and  prohibited  any  further  removals ;  in  con 
sequence  of  which  many  families  were  compelled  to 
a  cruel  separation  ;  husbands  and  wives,  parents  and 
children  were  separated,  and  the  aged  and  infirm  left 
without  protection. 

The  term  for  which  the  continental  soldiers  enlist 
ed  will  expire  in  a  few  weeks,  and  it  is  understood 
that  the  recruits  for  a  future  army  will  be  enlisted  to 
serve  to  the  1st  of  December  next,  unless  sooner  dis 
charged,  as  hopes  are  yet  entertained  that  a  settlement 
of  our  difficulties  with  Great  Britain  may  be  effected. 
Reports  are  in  circulation  that  an  attack  on  the  town 
of  Boston  is  contemplated  ;  or,  that  the  plan  has  been 
agitated  and  is  relinquished,  till  our  people  can  pass 
over  on  the  ice.  The  public  appear  to  be  impatient 
to  have  our  inveterate  enemies  expelled  from  our 
territories. 

November. — Our  hospitals  are  considerably  crowd 
ed  with  sick  soldiers  from  camp  ;  the  prevailing  dis 
eases  are  autumnal  fevers  and  dysenteric  complaints, 
which  have  proved  fatal  in  a  considerable  number  of 
instances.  It  is  highly  gratifying  to  observe,  that 
these  brave  men,  while  in  the  service  of  their  conntry, 
receive  in  sickness  all  the  kind  attention  from  phy 
sicians  and  nurses,  which  their  circumstances  require ; 
they  have  the  prayers  and  consolations  of  pious  clergy 
men,  and  are  destitute  of  nothing,  but  the  presence 
of  their  dearest  friends,  to  alleviate  their  sufferings. 

I  am  sorry  to  have  occasion  to  notice  in  my  journal 
the  following  occurrence.  The  body  of  a  soldier  has 
been  taken  from  the  grave,  for  the  purpose,  probably 
of  dissection,  and  the  empty  coffin  left  exposed.  This 
affair  occasions  considerable  excitement  among  our 
people ;  both  resentment  and  grief  are  manifested  ; 
as  it  seems  to  impress  the  idea  that  a  soldier's  body 
is  held  in  no  estimation  after  death.  Such  a  practice, 
if  countenanced,  might  be  attended  with  serious  con- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1775.  41 

sequences  as  it  respects  our  soldiers.  Much  inquiry 
has  been  made,  but  without  success,  for  the  discovery 
of  the  persons  concerned  ;  and  the  practice  in  future 
is  strictly  prohibited  by  the  commander  in  chief. 

The  joyful  intelligence  is  now  announced  in  the 
public  papers,  that  Captain  Manly  of  Marblehead, 
commander  of  one  of  our  privateers,  has  captured  an 
English  ship,  bound  to  Boston,  loaded  with  ordnance 
stores,  of  immense  value  at  the  present  time.  Among 
the  ordnance  is  a  large  brass  mortar  on  a  new  con 
struction  ;  and  a  number  of  pieces  of  line  brass  cari- 
jion.  There  are  small  arms,  ammunition,  utensils, 
&c.  &c.  in  great  abundance.  An  invoice,  it  is  said, 
could  scarcely  be  formed  of  articles  better  suited  to 
our  wants  and  circumstances.  Several  other  store 
vessels  have  been  taken  by  our  privateers,  with  car 
goes  of  provision  and  various  kinds  of  stores,  to  a 
very  considerable  amount,  which  greatly  augments 
the  distresses  of  the  troops  and  people  in  Boston, 
and  affords  us  a  very  opportune  and  essential  supply. 
It  is  now  represented  that  the  distresses  of  the  inhabi 
tants  and  troops  in  Boston  exceed  the  possibility  of 
description.  They  are  almost  in  a  state  of  starvation, 
for  the  want  of  food  and  fuel.  The  inhabitants,  to 
tally  destitute  of  vegetables,  flour  and  fresh  provi 
sions,  have  actually  been  obliged  to  feed  on  horse 
flesh  ;  and  the  troops  confined  to  salt  provisions ;  by 
means  of  which  they  have  become  very  sickly.  They 
have  taken  down  a  number  of  houses,  removed  the 
pews  from  the  church,  and  are  digging  up  the  tim 
ber  at  the  wharves  for  fuel. 

December  2d. — I  visited  the  park  of  artillery,  and 
was  much  gratified  to  find  a  collection  of  ordnance 
far  exceeding  my  expectations,  and  such  as  is  sup 
posed  by  some  to  be  adequate  to  our  present  exigence. 
I  had  a  view  of  the  large  brass  mortar  taken  by  Cap 
tain  Manly ;  it  is  now  called  the  Congress  and  will 
soon  be  prepared  to  speak  in  strong  terms  to  its  for 
mer  masters. 

6 


42  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776. 

4th. — A  considerable  number  of  Connecticut  troops 
have  left  our  service  and  returned  home ;  no  per 
suasion  could  induce  them  to  continue  in  service  after 
their  time  of  enlistment  had  expired.  Enlisting 
officers  are  distributed  in  various  parts  of  New  Eng 
land  ;  but  it  is  reported  that  voluntary  enlistments  go 
on  slowly.  The  people  seem  to  be  unwilling  to  en 
gage  in  the  public  service,  and  require  higher  wages. 
The  spirit  of  patriotism  appears  in  some  degree  to 
have  subsided,  and  the  militia  are  to  be  employed. 

Ilth. — A  party  of  militia,  said  to  be  about  two 
thousand,  have  arrived  in  camp ;  and  information 
is  received  that  three  thousand  more  are  on  their 
march.  A  few  enlisted  soldiers  have  arrived ;  but 
so  destitute  are  they  of  fire  arms,  that  it  has  been 
found  necessary  to  take  the  arms  by  force  from  the 
soldiers  who  retire,  paying  for  them,  in  order  to 
supply  the  recruits. 

18th. — The  Americans  have  advanced  and  broken 
ground  at  Lechmere's  Point,  within  half  a  mile  of 
Boston ;  which  occasioned  a  severe  cannonade  from 
the  enemy ;  but  they  persevered  in  their  work  and 
suffered  but  an  inconsiderable  loss.  It  is  stated, 
from  the  minutes  of  some  person,  that  from  Breed's 
Hill  battle  to  the  25th  instant,  the  British  have 
thrown  upwards  of  two  thousand  shot  and  shells.  By 
the  whole  firing,  on  Cambridge  side,  they  killed  only 
seven,  and  on  Roxbury  side  five,  just  a  dozen  in  the 
whole.  At  this  rate,  how  many  shot  and  bombs  will 
it  require  to  subdue  the  whole  of  his  majesty's  rebel 
lious  subjects? 

January,  1776. — At  the  close  of  the  last  year,  as  is 
now  reported,  our  army  was  reduced  to  a  very  critical 
situation,  being  obliged  to  substitute  new  raised  troops 
and  militia  in  the  place  of  those  who  had  been  in  ser 
vice  five  or  six  months  ;  and  this  exchange  was  made 
within  musket  shot  of  the  enemy's  lines.  During 
part  of  this  period,  our  numbers  were  not  sufficient  to 
man  the  lines,  nor  was  there  powder  enough  in  camp 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  43 

to  furnish  four  rounds  a  man.  Before  our  privateers 
had  fortunately  captured  some  prizes  with  cannon 
and  other  ordnance,  our  army  before  Boston  had,  I 
believe,  only  four  small  brass  cannon  and  a  few  old 
honey- comb  iron  pieces  with  their  trunnions  broken 
off;  and  these  were  ingeniously  bedded  in  timbers 
in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  stocking  a  musket. 
These  machines  were  extremely  unwieldly  and  incon 
venient,  requiring  much  skill  and  labor  to  elevate  and 
depress  them.  Had  the  enemy  been  made  acquaint 
ed  with  our  situation,  the  consequences  might  have 
been  exceedingly  distressing. 

25th. — The  newspapers  announce  the  most  painful 
intelligence  from  our  army  in  Canada.  General  Mont 
gomery,  the  commander,  made  a  desperate,  but  un 
successful  assault  on  the  city  of  Quebec,  on  the  31st 
ultimo.  The  event  has  proved  most  fatal  and  dis 
astrous.  General  Montgomery,  and  his  aid- de- camp, 
with  several  other  officers,  were  slain.  Colonel  Ar 
nold,  the  second  in  command,  heroically  passed  the 
first  barrier  with  his  small  party,  and  received  a 
wound  in  his  leg.  About  three  hundred  of  the  con 
tinental  troops  were  made  prisoners,  and  about  sixty 
killed  and  wounded.  We  remain  unacquainted  with 
further  particulars.  The  death  of  General  Mont 
gomery  is  universally  deplored.  In  the  public  papers 
we  have  the  following  account  of  this  brave  officer. 
"  He  was  a  captain  of  grenadiers  in  the  17th  regiment 
of  British  troops,  of  which  General  Monckton  was 
colonel.  He  served  the  last  war  in  the  expeditions  in 
the  West  Indies  and  America,  and  returned  with  his 
regiment  to  England.  In  1772  he  quitted  his  regi 
ment,  though  in  a  fair  way  of  preferment.  Whilst  in 
America  he  imbibed  an  affection  for  this  country — he 
had,  while  in  the  king's  service,  declared  his  disap 
probation  of  the  sentiments  of  the  ministry,  and  viewed 
America  as  the  rising  seat  of  arts  and  freedom. ?? 

February  9th. — A  very  considerable  firing  was 
heard  last  evening  from  Boston ;  it  was  occasioned  by 


44  MILITAKY   JOURNAL,  1776. 

a  detachment  of  one  hundred  men,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Major  Knowlton,  who  made  an  incursion  into 
Charlestown,  for  the  purpose  of  burning  a  number  of 
houses,  to  deprive  the  enemy  of  their  use.  He 
effected  the  object  of  his  expedition  by  burning  about 
ten  houses  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy,  and  returned 
in  less  than  two  hours,  bringing  off  some  muskets, 
without  the  loss  of  a  single  man  either  killed  or 
wounded. 

14th.-— The  following  anecdote  is  worth  notice ; 
it  appears  by  extracts  from  letters  written  by  the 
officers  who  are  the  subjects  of  it.  Some  British 
officers,  soon  after  General  Gage  arrived  at  Boston, 
while  walking  on  Beacon  Hill  in  the  evening,  were 
frightened  by  noises  in  the  air,  which  they  took 
to  be  the  whizzing  of  bullets.  They  left  the  hill 
with  great  precipitation,  and  reported  that  they 
were  shot  at  with  air  guns,  and  wrote  frightful  ac 
counts  of  the  affair  to  their  friends  in  England.  The 
whizzing  noise  which  so  alarmed  these  valiant  officers, 
could  be  no  other  than  the  buzzing  of  bugs  and 
beetles,  while  flying  in  the  air. 

16th. — It  might  be  supposed  that  the  melancholy 
aspect  of  the  times,  and  the  dreadful  disappointments 
and  privations  of  the  British  officers  and  tories  in 
Boston,  would  afford  matter  for  the  most  serious  con 
sideration,  and  effectually  check  every  emotion  bor 
dering  on  levity  and  amusement.  We  find  however 
that  they  do  not  deny  themselves  balls  and  theatrical 
amusements,  for  they  say  in  the  language  of  the  poet, 

u  What  need  of  piping  for  the  songs  and  sherry, 
"  When  our  own  miseries  can  make  us  merry." 

It  is  asserted  from  Boston,  that  on  the  evening 
when  Major  Knowlton  set  fire  to  the  houses  in  Charles- 
town,  8th  instant,  the  farce  of  "  The  Blockade  of 
Boston,"  of  which  General  Burgoyne  is  the  reputed 
author,  was  to  be  performed.  The  figure  designed 
to  burlesque  General  Washington  was  dressed  in  an 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  45 

uncouth  style,  with  a  large  wig  and  long  rusty  sword, 
attended  by  his  orderly  sergeant  in  his  country  dress, 
having  on  his  shoulder  an  old  rusty  gun  seven  or 
eight  feet  long.  At  the  moment  this  figure  appeared 
on  the  stage,  one  of  the  regular  sergeants  came  run 
ning  on  the  stage,  threw  down  his  bayonet,  and  ex 
claimed,  "  The  Yankees  are  attacking  our  works  on 
Bunker's  Hill."  Those  of  the  audience  who  were 
unacquainted  with  the  different  parts,  supposed  that 
this  belonged  to  the  farce ;  but  when  General  Howe 
called  out,  Officers  to  your  alarm  posts,  they  were 
undeceived  ;  all  was  confusion  and  dismay ;  and  among 
the  ladies,  shrieking  and  fainting  ensued.  How  pure 
the  satisfaction  to  a  great  mind  employed  in  bur 
lesquing  those  Yankees  by  whom  they  are  besieged ! 

ISth. — Dr.  John  Morgan  of  Philadelphia  is  ap 
pointed  by  Congress  Director  General  of  our  hospitals, 
instead  of  Dr.  Church,  removed.  Since  his  arrival 
here,  a  new  and  systematic  arrangement  in  the  medi 
cal  department  has  taken  place  ;  the  number  of  sur 
geons'  mates  in  the  hospital  is  to  be  reduced,  and 
vacancies  in  regiments  are  to  be  supplied.  I  have 
been  subjected  to  another  examination  by  Dr.  Mor 
gan,  and  received  from  him  the  appointment  of  sur 
geon's  mate  to  Dr.  David  Townsend,  in  the  regiment 
commanded  by  Colonel  Asa  Whitconib,  stationed  in 
the  barracks  on  Prospect  Hill. 

22d. — Our  regiment,  according  to  orders,  marched 
to  Roxbury ;  and  took  quarters  in  the  large  and  ele 
gant  house  formerly  belonging  to  Governor  Shirley. 
Great  preparations  are  making  in  our  army  for  some 
important  event.  Several  regiments  of  militia  have 
arrived  from  the  country  ;  and  orders  have  been  re 
ceived  for  surgeons  and  mates  to  prepare  lint  and 
bandages,  to  the  amount  of  two  thousand,  for  fractured 
limbs,  and  other  gun  shot  wounds.  It  is  however  to 
be  hoped  that  not  one  quarter  of  the  number  will  be 
required,  whatever  may  be  the  nature  of  the  occa 
sion.  Great  activity  and  animation  are  observed 


46  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

among  our  officers  and  soldiers,  who  manifest  an  anxi 
ous  desire  to  have  a  conflict  with  the  enemy.  Either 
a  general  assault  on  the  town  of  Boston,  or  the  erec 
tion  of  works  on  the  heights  of  Dorchester,  or  both, 
is  generally  supposed  to  be  in  contemplation. 

March  2d. — A  very  heavy  discharge  of  cannon 
and  mortars  commenced  from  all  our  works  at  Cam 
bridge  and  Roxbury. 

3d. — The  firing  from  our  works  continues,  but  the 
great  brass  mortar,  the  Congress,  and  two  others, 
have  unfortunately  burst ;  which  is  exceedingly  re 
gretted. 

4th. — The  object  in  view  is  now  generally  under 
stood  to  be  the  occupying  and  fortifying  of  the  advan 
tageous  heights  of  Dorchester.  A  detachment  of  our 
troops  is  ordered  to  march  for  this  purpose  this  even 
ing  ;  and  our  regiment,  with  several  others,  has  re 
ceived  orders  to  march  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
to  relieve  them.  We  are  favored  with  a  full  bright 
moon,  and  the  night  is  remarkably  mild  and  pleasant ; 
the  preparations  are  immense  ;  more  than  three  hun 
dred  loaded  carts  are  in  motion.  By  the  great  exer 
tions  of  General  Mifflin,  our  Quarter  Master  General, 
the  requisite  number  of  teams  has  been  procured. 
The  covering  party  of  eight  hundred  men  advance 
in  front.  Then  follow  the  carts  with  the  entrench 
ing  tools ;  after  which,  the  working  party  of  twelve 
hundred,  commanded  by  General  Thomas,  of  Kings 
ton.  Next  in  the  martial  procession  are  a  train  of 
carts,  loaded  witli  fascines  and  hay,  screwed  into  large 
bundles  of  seven  or  eight  hundred  weight.  The 
whole  procession  moved  on  in  solemn  silence,  and 
with  perfect  order  and  regularity;  while  the  con 
tinued  roar  of  cannon  serves  to  engage  the  attention 
and  divert  the  enemy  from  the  main  object. 

5th. — At  about  four  o'clock  our  regiment  followed 
to  the  heights  of  Dorchester,  as  a  relief  party.  On 
passing  Dorchester  Neck  I  observed  a  vast  number 
of  large  bundles  of  screwed  hay.  arranged  in  a  line 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776.  47 

next  the  enemy,  to  protect  our  troops  from  a  raking 
fire,  to  which  we  should  have  been  greatly  exposed, 
while  passing  and  repassing.     The  carts  were  still  in 
motion  with  materials ;  some  of  them  have  made  three 
or  four  trips.     On  the  heights  we  found  two  forts  in 
considerable  forwardness,  and  sufficient  for  a  defence 
against  small  arms  and  grape  shot.     The  amount  of 
labor  performed  during  the  night,  considering  the 
earth  is  frozen  eighteen  inches  deep,  is  almost  incred 
ible.     The  enemy  having  discovered  our   works  in 
the  morning,  commenced   a  tremendous   cannonade 
from  the  forts  in  Boston,  and  from  their  shipping  in 
the  harbor.     Cannon  shot  are  continually  rolling  and 
rebounding  over  the  hill ;  and  it  is  astonishing  to 
observe  how  little  our  soldiers  are  terrified  by  them. 
During  the  forenoon  we  were  in  momentary  expec 
tation  of  witnessing   an  awful   scene ;    nothing  less 
than  the  carnage  of  Breed's  hill  battle  was  expected. 
The  royal  troops  are  perceived  to  be  in  motion,  as  if 
embarking  to  pass  the  harbor,  and  land  on  Dorches 
ter  shore,  to  attack  our  works.     The  hills  and  eleva 
tions  in  this  vicinity  are  covered  with  spectators  to 
witness   deeds  of  horror  in   the   expected  conflict. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington  is  present,  an 
imating  and  encouraging  the  soldiers,  and  they  in 
return  manifest  their  joy,  and  express  a  warm  desire 
for  the  approach  of  the  enemy  ;  each  man  knows  his 
place,  and  is  resolute  to  execute  his  duty.     Our  breast 
works    are  strengthened,  and  among  the  means   of 
defence  are  a  great  number  of  barrels,  filled  with 
stones  and  sand,  arranged  in  front  of  our  works ; 
which  are  to  be  put  in  motion  and  made  to  roll  down 
the  hill,  to  break  the  ranks  and  legs  of  the  assailants  as 
they  advance.     These  are  the  preparations  for  blood 
and  slaughter  !  Gracious  God !  if  it  be  determined  in 
thy  Providence  that  thousands  of  our  fellow  creatures 
shall  this  day  be  slain,  let  thy  wrath  be  appeased, 
and  in  mercy  grant,  that  victory  be  on  the  side  of  our 
suffering,   bleeding,   country. The  anxious   day 


48  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776. 

has  closed,  and  the  enemy  has  failed  to  molest  us. 
From  appearances,  however,  there  are  strong  reasons 
to  suppose,  that  they  have  only  postponed  their 
meditated  work  till  another  day.  It  is  presumed 
that  the  martial  fire,  which  has  been  enkindled  in 
the  breasts  of  our  soldiery,  will  not  be  extinguished 
during  the  night,  and  that  they  will  not  rest  quietly 
under  their  disappointment.  Early  in  the  morning 
of  the  6th,  our  regiment  was  relieved  from  its  tour 
of  duty,  and  I  bade  adieu  to  Dorchester  heights, 
without  being  called  to  dress  a  single  wound.  Not 
more  than  two  or  three  men  were  killed  or  wounded 
during  the  twenty  four  hours.  Some  of  the  British 
troops  were  seen  to  embark,  and  pass  down  towards 
the  castle  last  evening,  to  be  in  readiness,  it  was  sup 
posed,  in  conjunction  with  others,  to  attack  our  works 
this  morning ;  but  a  most  violent  storm  came  on  in 
the  night,  and  still  continuing,  obliges  General  Howe 
to  abandon  his  enterprise,  and  thus  has  a  kind  Provi 
dence  seen  fit  to  frustrate  a  design,  which  must  have 
been  attended  with  immense  slaughter  and  blood 
shed.  General  Howe  must  now  be  sensible  of  his 
exposed  situation,  and  be  convinced  of  the  immedi 
ate  necessity  of  evacuating  the  town  of  Boston,  if 
he  would  prevent  the  sacrifice  of  his  fleet  and  army. 

7th. — There  are  strong  indications  in  Boston,  that 
the  king's  troops  are  preparing  to  evacuate  the  town ; 
and  that  no  attempt  will  be  made  to  dispossess  our 
people  of  the  works,  which  we  have  constructed  on 
Dorchester  heights. 

8th. — A  flag  of  truce  has  come  out  of  Boston  with 
a  message  from  the  selectmen  ;  acquainting  General 
Washington  that  General  Howe  has  come  to  the  de 
termination  to  evacuate  the  town ;  and  that  he 
would  leave  it  standing,  provided  his  army  should  be 
permitted  to  retire  without  being  molested.  At  the 
same  time  intimating,  as  is  reported,  that  in  case  he 
should  be  attacked  by  our  army,  the  town  should  be 
set  on  fire  in  different  places,  in  order  to  secure  his 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1776.  49 

retreat.  We  are  unacquainted  with  the  determina 
tion  of  his  Excellency  respecting  this  proposition  ; 
but  it  is  well  known  that  he  has  been  in  favor  of 
making  an  attack  on  the  town  ;  and  that  the  neces 
sary  preparations  were  made,  and  the  plan  arranged, 
to  be  put  in  execution,  in  the  event  of  the  enemy's 
meditated  attack  on  our  works  at  Dorchester  heights. 
Four  thousand  troops,  the  first  division  commanded 
by  General  Sullivan,  the  second  by  General  Greene, 
were  ordered  to  be  in  readiness,  and  in  case  the 
enemy  had  advanced  and  been  defeated  on  the 
heights  of  Dorchester,  this  force,  at  a  given  signal, 
was  to  have  rushed  into  the  town  and  taken  possession. 

It  is  credibly  reported  from  Boston,  that  on  the 
morning  when  the  British  officers  discovered  our 
newly  erected  works,  which,  on  account  of  a  fog 
loomed  to  great  advantage,  and  appeared  larger  than 
the  reality,  General  HowTe,  on  viewing  them,  was 
heard  to  say  in  astonishment,  "I  know  not  what  I 
shall  do,  the  rebels  have  done  more  in  one  night  than 
my  whole  army  would  have  done  in  weeks.  His 
admiral  soon  assured  him  that  if  the  rebels  were  per 
mitted  to  hold  possession,  he  should  not  be  able  to 
keep  a  single  ship  in  the  harbor  in  safety. 

Nothing  of  consequence  occurred  to  observation  till 
Sunday  morning,  March  17th,  when  at  an  early  hour 
it  was  perceived  that  the  royal  army  commenced  their 
embarkation  on  board  of  transports.  In  the  course 
of  the  forenoon  we  enjoyed  the  unspeakable  satisfac 
tion  of  beholding  their  whole  fleet  under  sail,  waft 
ing  from  our  shores  the  dreadful  scourge  of  war.  It 
was  in  the  power  of  the  provincials  by  a  cannonade 
to  have  annoyed  the  enemy's  shipping  and  trans 
ports  as  they  passed  Dorchester  heights,  and  to  have 
occasioned  great  embarrassment  and  destruction 
among  them  ;  but  no  orders  were  given  for  this 
purpose,  and  they  were  suffered  to  pass  unmolested. 
By  this  event  we  are  happily  relieved  of  a  force  con 
sisting  of  seven  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy 
7 


50  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

five  regulars,  exclusive  of  the  staff,  which,  with  the 
marines  and  sailors,  may  be  estimated  at  about  ten 
thousand  in  the  whole.  This  force  greatly  exceeds  the 
five  regiments,  with  which  General  Grant  vauntingly 
boasted  in  England,  that  he  could  march  successfully 
from  one  end  of  the  American  continent  to  the  other. 
A  considerable  number  of  tories,  who  had  joined  the 
royal  standard,  took  passage  with  their  families  on 
board  of  the  transports  with  the  army,  and  bade 
adieu  to  their  native  country,  without  knowing  what 
part  of  the  world  is  to  be  their  destiny. 

Immediately  after  the  enemy  sailed  from  Boston 
harbor,  General  Washington  ordered  the  major  part 
of  his  army  to  march  to  New  York,  to  secure  that 
city  against  the  apprehended  invasion  of  General 
Howe.  It  was  not  till  Wednesday,  the  20th,  that 
our  troops  were  permitted  to  enter  the  town,  when 
our  regiment,  with  two  or  three  others,  were  ordered 
to  march  in,  and  take  up  our  quarters,  which  were 
provided  for  us  in  comfortable  houses.  WThile  march 
ing  through  the  streets,  the  inhabitants  appeared  at 
their  doors  and  windows ;  though  they  manifested 
a  lively  joy  on  being  liberated  from  a  long  imprison 
ment,  they  were  not  altogether  free  from  a  melan 
choly  gloom  which  ten  tedious  months'  siege  has 
spread  over  their  countenances.  The  streets  and 
buildings  present  a  scene,  which  reflects  disgrace  on 
their  late  occupants,  exhibiting  a  deplorable  desola 
tion  and  wretchedness. 

22d. — A  concourse  of  people  from  the  country  are 
crowding  into  town,  full  of  friendly  solicitude  ;  and 
it  is  truly  interesting  to  witness  the  tender  interviews 
and  fond  embraces  of  those,  who  have  been  long 
separated  under  circumstances  so  peculiarly  dis 
tressing.  But  it  is  particularly  unfortunate  on  this 
occasion,  that  the  small  pox  is  lurking  in  various 
parts  of  the  town  ;  which  deters  many  from  enjoying 
an  interview  with  their  friends.  The  parents  and 
sister  of  my  friend  Dr.  Townsend  have  continued  in 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1776.  51 

town  during  the  siege ;  being  introduced  to  the 
family  by  the  Doctor,  1  received  a  kind  and  polite 
invitation  to  take  up  my  abode  with  them,  where  I 
am  enjoying  the  kindest  attentions  and  civilities.  I 
accompanied  several  gentlemen  to  view  the  British 
fortifications  on  Roxbury  neck,  where  I  observed 
a  prodigious  number  of  little  military  engines  called 
caltrops,  or  crow  feet,  scattered  over  the  ground  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  works  to  impede  the  march  of  our 
troops  in  case  of  an  attack.  The  implement  consists 
of  an  iron  ball  armed  with  four  sharp  points  about 
one  inch  in  length,  so  formed  that  which  way  soever 
it  may  fall  one  point  still  lies  upwards  to  pierce  the 
feet  of  horses  or  men,  and  are  admirably  well  calcu 
lated  to  obstruct  the  march  of  an  enemy. 

23d. — I  went  to  view  the  Old  South  Church,  a  spa 
cious  brick  building  near  the  centre  of  the  town.  It 
has  been  for  more  than  a  century  consecrated  to  the 
service  of  religion,  and  many  eminent  divines  have  in 
its  pulpit  labored  in  teaching  the  ways  of  righteous 
ness  and  truth.  But  during  the  late  siege  the  inside 
of  it  was  entirely  destroyed  by  the  British,  and  the 
sacred  building  occupied  as  a  riding  school  for  Bur- 
goyne's  regiment  of  dragoons.  The  pulpit  and  pews 
were  removed,  the  floor  covered  with  earth,  and 
used  for  the  purpose  of  training  and  exercising  their 
horses.  A  beautiful  pew,  ornamented  with  carved 
work  and  silk  furniture,  was  demolished ;  and  by 
order  of  an  officer,  the  carved  work,  it  is  said,  was 
used  as  a  fence  for  a  hogsty.  The  North  Church,  a 
very  valuable  building,  was  entirely  demolished  and 
consumed  for  fuel.  *  Thus  are  our  houses,  devoted 
to  religious  worship,  profaned  and  destroyed  by  the 
subjects  of  his  Royal  Majesty.  His  Excellency  the 
commander  in  chief  has  been  received  by  the  inhabi 
tants  with  every  mark  of  respect  and  gratitude  ;  and 
a  public  dinner  has  been  provided  for  him.  He 
requested  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eliot,  at  the  renewal  of  his 
customary  Thursday  Lecture,  to  preach  a  thanks- 


52  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

giving  sermon,  adapted  to  the  joyful  occasion.  Ac 
cordingly  on  the  28th,  this  pious  divine  preached  an 
appropriate  discourse  from  Isaiah  xxxiii.  20,  in  pres 
ence  of  his  Excellency  and  a  respectable  audience. 

29th. — The  Massachusetts  House  of  Representa 
tives  and  Council,  presented  his  Excellency  a  respect 
ful  and  affectionate  address ;  and  received  from  him 
a  reply  no  less  respectful  and  satisfactory. 

One  of  our  soldiers  found  a  human  skeleton  in 
complete  preparation,  left  by  a  British  surgeon, 
which  I  have  received  as  an  acceptable  present. 

Jlpril  Sth. — I  attended  at  the  Stone  Chapel,  where 
were  performed  the  funeral  solemnities  over  the 
remains  of  that  patriot  and  hero  Major  General 
Joseph  Warren.  The  remains  were  taken  from  the 
earth  at  Breed's  hill,  placed  in  an  elegant  coffin, 
and  brought  into  the  chapel,  where,  in  the  presence 
of  a  numerous  assembly,  a  eulogy  was  pronounced 
by  Perez  Morton,  Esq.  a  young  lawyer  of  abilities. 
The  ceremony  was  conducted  by  the  society  of  Free 
Masons,  of  which  the  deceased  was  Grand  Master. 
A  grand  procession  was  formed,  and  the  remains  hav 
ing  received  the  customary  masonic  honors,  were  de 
posited  in  the  vault  under  the  chapel.  This  pro 
ceeding  was  to  me  a  pleasing  novelty,  and  in  the 
view  of  the  public,  a  grateful  tribute  to  the  memory 
of  a  beloved  fellow  citizen. 

4'  Let  laurels,  drench'd  in  pure  Parnassian  dews, 

Reward  his  memVy  dear  to  every  muse, 

Who,  with  a  courage  of  unshaken  root, 

In  honor's  field  advancing  his  firm  foot, 

Plants  it  upon  the  line  that  justice  draws, 

And  will  prevail  or  perish  in  her  cafcse. 

'Tis  to  the  virtues  of  such  men  man  owes 

His  portion  in  the  good  that  Heaven  bestows. 

And  when  recording  history  displays 

Feats  of  renown,  though  wrought  in  ancient  days  * 

Tells  of  a  few  stout  hearts,  that  fought  and  died 

"Where  duty  placM  them,  at  their  country's  side  ; 

The  man  that  is  not  movM  with  what  he  reads, 

That  takes  not  £re  at  their  heroic  deeds, 

Unworthy  of  the  blessings  of  the  brave, 

Is  base  in  kind,  and  born  to  be  a  slave." — COWPER. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  53 

May. — As  the  smallpox  is  in  many  parts  of  the 
town  among  both  the  inhabitants  and  soldiers,  I 
was  advised  by  my  friends  to  have  recourse  to  inocu 
lation  for  my  own  safety,  though  contrary  to  general 
orders,  I  was  accordingly  inoculated  by  my  friend 
Dr.  John  Romans,  and  have  passed  through  the 
disease  in  the  most  favorable  manner,  not  suffering 
one  day's  confinement. 

June  13th. — The  harbor  of  Boston  has  not  been 
entirely  cleared  of  British  shipping  since  the  town 
was  evacuated.  A  fifty  gun  ship  and  several  other 
vessels  still  occupy  the  lower  harbor,  near  Nantasket. 
A  number  of  provincial  troops  and  volunteers  are 
now  ordered  on  an  expedition,  under  command  of 
General  Benjamin  Lincoln,  with  heavy,. cannon,  for 
the  purpose  of  driving  them  from  the  harbor.  A 
part  of  our  regiment  being  ordered  on  the  expedi 
tion,  we  embarked  at  the  Long  Wharf,  and  landed 
on  Long  Island,  and  immediately  made  arrangements 
for  a  cannonade.  A  few  shot  soon  convinced  the 
Commodore  of  his  danger  ;  he  returned  the  fire  with 
some  spirit ;  but  having  received  a  shot  through  his 
upper  works,  he  soon  got  under  sail  and  hastily  de 
parted.  Thus  is  the  port  of  Boston  again  opened 
by  our  own  authority,  after  being  closed  during  two 
years  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  British  Parliament. 

20th. — The  removal  of  the  British  armed  vessels 
from  Nantasket  has  been  productive  of  very  favora 
ble  consequences.  Three  days  after  their  departure 
two  transports  from  Scotland  bound  to  Boston,  unap- 
prized  of  the  event,  entered  Nantasket  road,  and 
were  accosted  by  a  discharge  of  cannon  from  an  Amer 
ican  battery  before  they  were  undeceived.  In  this 
situation  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  escape,  and 
several  of  our  privateers  made  their  appearance,  and 
commanded  them  to  strike  their  flag.  This  being 
refused,  a  smart  action  ensued  and  continued  about 
an  hour  and  a  half,  when  they  were  obliged  to 
yield  and  strike  to  the  privateers.  On  board  the 


54  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

transports  Major  Menzies  and  eight  others  were 
killed,  and  seventeen  wounded.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Archibald  Campbell,  two  hundred  and  sixty  seven 
Highlanders,  and  forty  eight  others,  were  made  pri 
soners.  Major  Menzies  has  been  buried  here  with 
the  honors  of  war. 

July  3d. — Orders  are  given  to  inoculate  for  the 
smallpox,  all  the  soldiers  and  inhabitants  in  town, 
as  a  general  infection  of  this  terrible  disease  is  ap 
prehended.  Dr.  Townsend  and  myself  are  now 
constantly  engaged  in  this  business. 

12th. — Melancholy  accounts  have  been  received 
respecting  the  situation  of  our  army  in  Canada ;  they 
are  subjected  to  very  great  hardships,  sufferings,  and 
privations.  Destitute  of  the  necessary  supplies  of 
provisions  and  stores,  exhausted  by  fatigue,  and  re 
duced  by  sickness,  with  the  smallpox  attended  by 
unexampled  mortality,  they  are  in  a  state  but  little 
short  of  desperation.  In  addition  to  all  their  suffer 
ings,  they  now  have  to  deplore  the  loss  of  their 
valuable  commander  Major  General  John  Thomas. 
This  gentleman  was  a  native  of  Kingston,  Massachu 
setts.  He  was  in  military  service  in  former  wars 
against  the  French  and  Indians,  where  he  acquired 
a  high  degree  of  reputation.  He  was  among  the 
iirst  to  espouse  the  cause  of  his  country  in  a  military 
character  in  1775,  and  during  the  siege  of  Boston, 
and  on  the  heights  of  Dorchester,  he  was  distin 
guished  as  an  active,  vigilant  and  brave  officer.  In 
March,  1776,  he  was  promoted  by  Congress  from  a 
Brigadier  to  the  rank  of  Major  General,  and  by 
them  appointed  to  command  our  forces  in  Canada. 
On  his  arrival  there  he  'found  innumerable  difficul 
ties  to  encounter  ;  the  smallpox  frequently  breaking 
out  among  the  troops,  arid  the  soldiers  being  in  the 
practice  of  inoculating  themselves,  to  the  great  in 
jury  of  the  public  service.  The  general  deemed  it 
necessary,  for  the  safety  of  the  army,  to  prohibit  the 
practice  of  inoculating,  and  not  excepting  himself 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776.  55 

irom  the  injunction,  he  unfortunately  received  the 
infection,  which  proved  fatal  to  him,  and  deprived 
the  public  of  a  valuable  general  officer.  He  was 
held  in  universal  respect  and  confidence  as  a  military 
character,  and  his  death  is  deeply  deplored  through 
out  the  army. 

The  very  important  intelligence  from  Philadel 
phia  is  now  proclaimed,  that  on  the  4th  instant,  the 
American  Congress  declared  the  thirteen  United 
Colonies,  "  Free,  Sovereign,  Independent  States" 
The  subject  has  for  some  time  agitated  the  public 
mind,  and  various  opinions  have  been  entertained 
relative  to  this  momentous  transaction.  Opinions  of 
much  weight  and  authority  have  been  and  still  are 
in  collision,  and  it  has  been  considered  very  doubtful 
whether  the  grand  object  would  be  accomplished  at 
the  present  time.  Objections  however  have  yielded 
to  imperious  necessity,  and  a  new  epoch  for  United 
America  has  now  commenced.  We  are  now,  in  the 
16th  year  of  the  reign  of  his  Majesty  King  George 
the  Third,  absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British 
crown  ;  and  all  political  connexion  between  us,  as 
subjects,  and  his  government  is  totally  and  forever 
dissolved,  unless  indeed  Providence  shall  so  order, 
that  we  shall  be  again  reduced  to  a  state  of  depend- 
ance  and  vassalage. 

18th. — This  day  the  declaration  of  American  In 
dependence  has  been  proclaimed  in  form  from  the 
balcony  of  the  State  House  in  this  town.  On  this 
most  joyful  occasion  Colonels  Whitcomb  and  Sar- 
geant's  regiments  were  paraded  under  arms  in  King 
street ;  and  also  a  detachment  from  the  Massachu 
setts  regiment  of  artillery  with  two  field  pieces.  A 
number  of  the  members  of  our  council  and  house  of 
representatives,  the  magistrates,  clergymen,  select 
men,  and  a  large  number  of  other  gentlemen  of 
Boston,  and  of  the  neighboring  towns,  assembled 
in  the  council  chamber.  At  1  o'clock  the  declara 
tion  was  proclaimed  by  Colonel  Thomas  Crafts,  and 


56  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

was  received  with  great  joy.  Three  huzzas  from  the 
concourse  of  people  were  given,  after  which  thirteen 
pieces  of  cannon  were  fired  from  Fort  hill  and  from 
Dorchester  neck,  the  Castle,  Nantasket,  &c.  The 
detachment  of  artillery  in  King  street,  discharged 
their  cannon  thirteen  times  ;  which  was  followed  hy 
the  two  regiments  in  thirteen  separate  divisions  ;  all 
corresponding  to  the  number  of  the  American  United 
States ;  after  which  the  gentlemen  in  the  council 
chamber  partook  of  a  collation,  and  a  number  of 
appropriate  toasts  were  proclaimed  by  the  president 
of  the  council. 

This  highly  important  transaction  of  our  Congress 
is  the  theme  of  every  circle  and  topic  of  universal 
discussion,  and  it  receives  the  sanction  and  approba 
tion  of  a  large  majority  of  the  community.  When 
we  reflect,  on  the  deranged  condition  of  our  army, 
the  great  deficiency  of  our  resources,  and  the  little 
prospect  of  foreign  assistance,  and  at  the  same  time 
contemplate  the  prodigious  powers  and  resources  of 
our  enemy,  we  may  view  this  measure  of  Congress 
as  a  prodigy.  The  history  of  the  world  cannot  fur 
nish  an  instance  of  fortitude  and  heroic  magnanimity 
parallel  to  that  displayed  by  the  members,  whose 
signatures  are  affixed  to  the  declaration  of  American 
Independence.  Their  venerated  names  will  orna 
ment  the  brightest  pages  of  American  history,  and 
be  transmitted  to  the  latest  generations.  The  in 
strument  was  signed  by  John  Hancock,  Esq.  as  Presi 
dent,  and  by  fifty  four  others,  delegates  from  the 
thirteen  United  States.  The  Congress  have  in  their 
declaration  recited  the  grievances  and  oppressions, 
for  which  we  could  not  obtain  redress ;  and  pro 
claimed  to  the  world  the  causes,  which  impelled 
them  to  a  separation  from  the  crown  of  Great  Britain. 
A  sensible  and  popular  writer,  in  a  production  en 
titled  "  Common  Sense"  argues  the  necessity  of 
the  measure  from  the  following  considerations.  "  We 
had  no  credit  abroad  because  of  our  rebellious  de.pen- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  57 

dency.  Our  ships  could  obtain  no  protection  in 
foreign  ports,  because  we  afforded  them  no  justifiable 
reason  for  granting  it  to  us.  The  calling  of  ourselves 
subjects,  and  at  the  same  time  fighting  against  the 
Prince  we  acknowledge,  was  a  dangerous  precedent 
to  all  Europe.  If  the  grievances  justified  our  taking 
up  arms,  they  justified  our  separation ;  if  they  did 
not  justify  our  separation,  neither  could  they  justify 
our  taking  arms.  All  Europe  was  interested  in  re 
ducing  us  as  rebels,  and  all  Europe,  or  the  greater 
part  at  least,  is  interested  in  supporting  us  in  our 
independent  state.  At  home  our  condition  was  still 
worse ;  our  currency  had  no  foundation ;  and  the 
state  of  it  would  have  ruined  whig  and  tory  alike. 
We  had  no  other  laws  than  a  kind  of  moderated 
passion ;  no  other  civil  power  than  an  honest  mob ; 
and  no  other  protection  than  the  temporary  attach 
ment  of  one  man  to  another.  Had  independency 
been  delayed  a  few  months  longer,  this  continent 
would  have  been  plunged  into  irretrievable  confusion  ; 
some  violent  for  it,  some  against  it — all  in  the  greatest 
cabal ;  the  rich  would  have  been  ruined,  and  the 
poor  destroyed.  The  necessity  of  being  independent 
would  have  brought  it  on  in  a  little  time,  had  there 
been  no  rupture  between  Britain  and  America. 
The  increasing  importance  of  commerce — the  weight 
and  perplexity  of  legislation — and  the  enlarged  state 
of  European  politics,  would  clearly  have  shown  to 
the  continent  the  impropriety  of  continuing  subordi 
nate  ;  for  after  the  coolest  reflection  on  the  matter, 
this  must  be  allowed,  "that  Britain  was  too  jealous  of 
America  to  govern  it  justly ;  too  ignorant  of  it  to 
govern  it  well ;  and  too  distant  from  it  to  govern  it 
at  all."  The  author  of  Common  Sense  is  Mr.  Thomas 
Paine  lately  from  England.  I  am  credibly  informed 
that  the  following  anecdote  occurred  on  the  day  of 
signing  the  declaration.  Mr.  Harrison,  a  delegate 
from  Virginia,  is  a  large  portly  man — Mr.  Gerry  of 
Massachusetts  is  slender  and  spare.  A  Kttle  time 
8 


58  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

after  the  solemn  transaction  of  signing  the  instrument, 
Mr.  Harrison  said  smilingly  to  Mr.  Gerry,  "  When 
the  hanging  scene  comes  to  be  exhibited  I  shall  have 
the  advantage  over  you  on  account  of  my  size.  All 
will  be  over  with  me  in  a  moment,  but  you  will  be 
kicking  in  the  air  half  an  hour  after  I  am  gone." 

20th. — It  appears  by  the  public  papers,  that  a  de 
tachment  from  the  Bristish  army  of  two  thousand  eight 
hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  Major  General 
Clinton,  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  a  fleet  consisting  of 
two  line  of  battle  ships,  frigates,  and  other  armed 
vessels,  amounting  to  forty  or  fifty,  have  lately  made 
a  furious  attack  on  the  town  of  Charleston,  South 
Carolina.  Major  General  Lee,  who  commands  our 
army  in  that  quarter,  has  written  to  Congress  a  par 
ticular  statement  of  the  engagement,  which,  he  says, 
continued  for  twelve  hours  without  intermission. 
The  enemy  was  twice  repulsed  with  great  loss ;  and 
the  Carolina  troops  and  militia  have  gained  the  high 
est  honor  by  their  brave  and  intrepid  conduct. 
Colonel  Moultrie,  in  a  particular  manner,  is  deserv 
ing  of  the  highest  praise.  But  the  British  fleet  has 
suffered  a  loss  almost  beyond  example.  Their  ships 
shattered  almost  to  total  ruin,  and  one  frigate  of 
twenty  eight  guns  was  blown  up  by  her  own  crew. 
A  number  of  officers  were  killed  and  wounded,  and 
the  number  of  men  is  said  to  be  one  hundred  and 
seventy  nine  killed,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty  wound 
ed.  Not  one  man,  who  was  quartered  at  the  begin 
ning  of  the  action  on  the  Bristol's  quarter  deck, 
escaped  being  killed  or  wounded.  Lord  Campbell, 
the  late  governor  of  that  colony,  being  a  volunteer  on 
board,  received  a  mortal  wound  ;  and  the  Commo 
dore,  Sir  Peter  Parker,  had  a  material  part  of  his 
breeches  torn  away  and  was  otherwise  wounded. 
The  whole  of  the  British  forces  displayed  the  great 
est  courage  and  bravery.  In  a  southern  newspaper 
are  inserted  the  following  lines  on  Sir  Peter's  dis 
aster. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  59 

"  If  honor  in  the  breech  is  lodg'd, 

As  Hudibras  hath  shown, 
It  may  from  hence  be  fairly  judg'd 

Sir  Peter's  honor's  gone.1' 

The  English  Parliament,  doubting  the  competency 
of  their  own  powers  to  subjugate  the  United  Colonies, 
have  resorted  to  the  assistance  of  foreign  troops  to 
prosecute  their  sanguinary  purposes.  They  have 
actually  entered  into  treaty  with  several  German 
Princes  to  furnish  seventeen  thousand  men,  to  aid  in 
the  great  work  of  reducing  the  Americans  to  the 
same  degraded  state  of  vassalage  with  these  hirelings 
themselves.  The  terms  stipulated  in  the  treaties 
are,  that  besides  the  wages  to  be  paid  these  foreigners, 
Parliament  engages  to  pay  for  every  soldier  who  shall 
not  return,  thirty  pounds  sterling ;  and  for  every 
disabled  soldier  fifteen  pounds  sterling !  These  mer 
cenary  troops,  it  is  said  in  England,  are  to  "  assist  in 
forcing  the  rebels  to  ask  mercy."  It  has  been  assert 
ed  in  the  House  of  Lords,  that  the  expense  to  Eng 
land  for  these  foreign  troops  cannot  be  less  than  one 
million  five  hundred  thousand  pounds  for  one  year  ! 
There  is  now  the  clearest  evidence,  that  the  British 
ministry  are  wofully  disappointed  in  their  expecta 
tions  respecting  the  spirit  and  temper  of  the  Ameri 
can  people.  They  had  entertained  no  idea  that  the 
colonists  would  proceed  to  such  daring  enormity  as  to 
spurn  their  mighty  power  and  authority.  They  ap 
pear  now  determined  by  their  augmented  forces  to 
crush  at  a  blow  all  opposition  to  their  mandates,  and 
to  coerce  the  rebels  into  a  sense  of  duty  to  their  king. 
It  is  estimated  that  a  force  exceeding  forty  thousand 
men  is  to  be  employed  in  America  the  present  year. 
His  majesty  has  appointed  the  two  brothers,  Lord 
Howe  and  General  Howe,  commissioners  for  restoring 
peace  to  the  colonies,  and  for  granting  pardon  to 
such  of  his  Majesty's  subjects,  now  in  rebellion,  as 
shall  deserve  the  royal  clemency.  Besides  the  two 
commissioners,  they  are  about  to  send  on  the  same 


60  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

service  a  combination  of  Hessians,  Brunswickers, 
Waldeckers,  English,  Scotch,  and  Irish.  The  Scots 
may  perhaps  come  prepared  with  the  following  advice, 

u  O  learn  from  our  example  and  our  fate, 
Learn  wisdom  and  repentance  ere  too  late." 

The  following  transaction  is  now  a  subject  of  news 
paper  discussion  and  of  general  conversation.  Ad 
miral  Lord  Howe  arrived  off  the  city  of  New  York, 
not  long  since,  to  take  the  command  of  the  British 
fleet ;  on  his  arrival  he  proclaimed  to  the  public  that 
he  and  his  brother  General  Howe  were  appointed 
his  Majesty's  commissioners,  with  full  powers  to 
grant  pardons  to  all  or  to  any  town,  county,  or  dis 
trict,  who  may  have  departed  from  their  allegiance 
and  duty  to  his  Majesty,  &c.  and  who  are  willing  by 
a  speedy  return  to  reap  the  benefit  of  the  royal  favor. 
These  royal  commissioners  despatched  Colonel  Pat 
terson,  Adjutant  General  of  the  British  army,  to 
General  Washington,  at  New  York,  with  letters  re 
specting  their  mission ;  but  as  the  letters  were  not 
directed  in  a  manner  expressive  of  his  official  station, 
his  Excellency  refused  to  receive  them ;  but  treated 
Colonel  Patterson  with  much  politeness,  and  dismissed 
him.  The  conduct  of  General  Washington  in  this 
interview  received  the  approbation  of  Congress,  and 
they  resolved,  "  that  he  had  acted  with  a  dignity 
becoming  his  character."  They  further  resolved, 
"  that  no  letters  or  messages  be  received  on  any  oc 
casion  whatever  from  the  enemy,  by  the  Commander 
in  Chief  or  others,  the  commanders  of  the  American 
army,  but  such  as  shall  be  directed  to  them  in  the 
characters  they  respectively  sustain."  It  was  not 
many  days  after  this  that  Colonel  Patterson  again 
waited  on  General  Washington,  and  on  this  occasion 
he  addressed  him  by  the  title  of  Excellency  ;  and  in 
the  name  of  the  Commissioners  apologized  for  any 
deficiency  in  point  of  respect  or  punctilio,  and  as 
sured  him  that  they  had  the  highest  personal  respect 
for  General  Washington,  and  did  not  mean  to  dero- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  61 

gate  from  his  rank  ;  that  the  letter,  of  which  he  was 
now  the  bearer  from  the  Commissioners,  was  directed 
to  George  Washington,  Esq.  &c.  &c.  &c.  which  they 
hoped  would  remove  all  difficulties ;  as  the  three 
et  ceteras  might  be  understood  to  imply  every  thing 
that  ought  to  follow.  To  this  the  General  replied, 
that  though  it  was.  true  the  three  et  ceteras  might 
mean  every  thing,  it  was  also  true  they  might  mean 
any  thing,  and  as  Congress  had  approved  of  his 
conduct  in  the  first  interview,  he  could  not  enter 
into  any  new  treaty  without  fresh  authority,  and  de 
clined  receiving  the  letter;  adding  that  he  should 
absolutely  decline  any  letter  directed  to  him  as  a 
private  person,  when  it  related  to  his  public  station. 
Colonel  Patterson  said,  Lord  and  General  Howe  were 
invested  with  exceedingly  great  powers,  and  were 
very  desirous  of  being  the  medium  of  an  accommo 
dation  of  difficulties.  The  General  replied,  he  had 
read  the  act  of  Parliament,  and  found  they  were 
merely  empowered  to  grant  pardons.  The  Americans 
had  committed  no  wrong,  and  therefore  wanted  no 
pardons ;  we  were  only  defending  what  we  deemed 
our  indisputable  rights.  Colonel  Patterson  seemed 
confused,  and  replied  that  this  would  open  a  wide 
field  for  argument.  The  Adjutant  General  conduct 
ed  with  the  greatest  attention  and  politeness;  and 
manifested  great  solicitude  that  the  letter  might  be 
received,  and  that  the  interview  might  be  productive 
of  favorable  results.  He  expressed  strong  acknow 
ledgments  for  the  favor  done  him,  in  omitting  the 
usual  ceremony  of  blinding  his  eyes,  when  passing 
our  works.  General  Washington  invited  him  to  par 
take  of  a  collation  provided  for  him,  and  he  was  in 
troduced  to  our  General  Officers.  After  many  com 
pliments  and  polite  expressions,  he  departed  with 
saying,  "  Has  your  Excellency  no  commands  to  my 
Lord  or  General  Howe  ?"  "  None,  Sir,"  replied 
the  General,  "but  my  particular  compliments  to 
both  of  them." 


62  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 

This  event  furnishes  an  irrefragable  testimony  of 
the  manly  firmness  of  mind  and  dignity  of  conduct 
of  our  Commander  in  Chief;  and  is  calculated  to 
impress  the  English  commanders  with  a  just  sense  of 
his  exalted  merit  and  character. 

August  1st. — The  continental  army,  under  the  im 
mediate  command  of  General  Washington,  is  stationed 
at  New  York  ;  and  it  is  expected  that  the  British 
army,  under  command  of  General  Howe,  will  en 
deavor  to  take  possession  of  that  city  the  present 
season. 

5th. — Colonel  Whitcomb's  regiment,  consisting  of 
five  hundred  men,  has  now  gone  through  the  small 
pox  in  this  town  by  inoculation,  and  all,  except  one 
negro,  have  recovered. 

7lh. — This  regiment,  with  Colonel  Sarjeant's,  are 
preparing  to  march  to  Ticonderoga.  A  number  of 
teams  are  procured  to  transport  the  baggage  and 
stores,  and  this  morning,  at  seven  o'clock,  they  march 
ed  out  of  town  with  colors  displayed  and  drums  beat 
ing.  Being  myself  indisposed,  I  am  permitted  to 
tarry  in  town  till  my  health  is  restored,  and  in  the 
mean  time  I  am  directed  to  take  charge  of  the  sick 
soldiers,  that  remain  here. 

2Q/7*. — Having  recovered  my  health,  and  being 
prepared  to  follow  our  regiment,  I  am  this  day  to 
bid  adieu  to  the  town  of  Boston,  where  I  have  re 
sided  very  pleasantly  for  the  last  five  months.  I  am 
destined  to  a  distant  part  of  our  country,  and  know 
not  what  sufferings  and  hazards  I  shall  be  called  to 
encounter,  while  in  the  discharge  of  my  military 
duty.  I  shall  commence  my  journey  in  company  with 
Lieutenant  Whiting  and  fourteen  men  who  were  left 
here  as  invalids. 

September. — We  took  our  route  through  Worces 
ter,  Springfield,  Charlestown,  in  New  Hampshire, 
and  over  the  Green  Mountains  to  Skeensbury  5 
which  is  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  the  continental 
troops  and  militia  destined  to  Ticonderoga.  Here 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776.  63 

boats  are  provided  at  the  entrance  of  Lake  Champlain, 
which  are  continually  passing  to  and  from  this  place. 
We  embarked  on  the  6th  instant,  and  with  good  oars 
men  and  sails  we  arrived  the  same  day,  and  joined  our 
regiment  here,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  While  on 
our  march,  we  received  alarming  reports  respecting 
some  military  operations  between  our  army,  com 
manded  by  General  Washington,  and  the  British, 
under  command  of  General  Howe,  on  Long  Island, 
near  New  York.  The  report  states  that  our  army 
has  suffered  a  complete  defeat  with  great  loss,  and 
that  two  of  our  general  officers  are  taken  prisoners. 
The  inhabitants  through  the  country  are  in  great 
alarm ;  but  have  not  obtained  the  particulars  ;  as  the 
account  at  present  is  vague,  and  somewhat  contra 
dictory,  we  hope  and  trust  that  a  particular  detail  will 
prove  the  event  to  be  more  favorable  to  our  cause. 
Soon  after  my  arrival  here,  a  soldier  had  the  impru 
dence  to  seize  a  rattlesnake  by  its  tail ;  the  reptile 
threw  its  head  back  and  struck  its  fangs  into  the  man's 
hand.  In  a  few  moments  a  swelling  commenced,  at 
tended  with  severe  pain.  It  was  not  more  than  half  an 
hour,  when  his  whole  arm  to  his  shoulder  was  swollen 
to  twice  its  natural  size,  and  the  skin  became  of  a 
deep  orange  color.  His  body,  on  one  side,  soon  became 
affected  in  a  similar  manner,  and  a  nausea  at  his 
stomach  ensued.  The  poor  man  was  greatly  and 
justly  alarmed  ;  his  situation  was  very  critical.  Two 
medical  men,  beside  myself,  were  in  close  attendance 
for  several  hours.  Having  procured  a  quantity  of 
olive  oil,  we  directed  the  patient  to  swallow  it  in 
large  and  repeated  doses,  till  he  had  taken  one  quart ; 
and  at  the  same  time  we  rubbed  into  the  affected 
limb  a  very  large  quantity  of  mercurial  ointment. 
In  about  two  hours  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  perceive 
the  favorable  effects  of  the  remedies.  The  alarming 
symptoms  abated,  the  swelling  and  pain  gradually 
subsided,  and  in  about  forty  eight  hours  he  was  hap 
pily  restored  to  health. 


64  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1776. 


.  —  I  have  omitted  to  record  the  following  in 
cidents,  till  I  could  ascertain  the  particulars  of  the 
reports. 

We  learn  by  accounts  from  New  York,  that  some 
time  since,  a  plot  of  a  most  atrocious  nature  was  de 
tected  in  that  city.  A  gang  of  tories  had  associated 
for  the  purpose  of  joining  the  British  army  ;  and  had 
concerted  a  plan,  it  is  said,  to  assassinate  his  Excel 
lency  General  Washington,  and  some  other  officers  ; 
and  while  our  army  were  engaged  with  the  enemy, 
to  blow  up  our  magazines,  &c.  The  mayor  of  the 
city,  and  an  armorer  who  was  employed  in  making 
rifles  for  the  tories,  and  several  others,  were  taken 
into  custody,  and  committed  to  close  prison.  The 
mayor,  on  examination,  confessed  that  he  received 
money  from  Governor  Tryon  to  pay  the  armorer  for 
the  rifles.  Two  of  his  Excellency's  guards  were 
confederate;  and  a  third,  to  whom  the  secret  was 
confided,  honestly  disclosed  the  information.  Several 
of  these  miscreants  were  tried  and  convicted,  and 
two  or  three  were  executed.  Another  vile  plot  has 
been  discovered  in  the  city  of  Albany.  By  the  con 
fession  of  two  tories,  the  plan  was  to  set  the  city  on 
fire,  and  to  blow  up  the  magazine.  Some  of  the  in 
cendiaries  were  apprehended,  and  the  meditated  plot 
frustrated.  We  have  now  ample  evidence,  that  the 
tories  are  the  most  virulent  and  implacable  of  our 
enemies  ;  and  it  is  to  be  considered  as  a  remarkable 
interposition  of  Providence,  that  their  vile  machina 
tions  are  so  frequently  defeated.  Internal  secret 
enemies  are  always  more  dangerous  than  avowed  foes 
in  the  field  ;  and  so  numerous  and  active  are  the 
tories  in  the  vicinity  of  our  main  army,  that  it  has 
been  found  necessary  to  adopt  coercive  measures, 
and  to  compel  them  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
as  prescribed  by  our  Congress,  or  to  depart  from  our 
territories. 

12th.  —  I  must  not  omit  to  notice  another  instance 
of  villany  in  a  German,  by  the  name  of  Ledwitz. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  65 

By  his  solicitation  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant  Colo 
nel  in  our  army,  and  he  has  been  detected  in  a  trai 
torous  correspondence  with  Governor  Tryon  of  New 
York.  He  entrusted  his  letter  to  one  Steen,  an 
honest  German,  to  be  conveyed  to  New  York ;  but 
he  considered  it  his  duty  to  expose  the  perfidy,  and 
delivered  it  to  General  Washington.  In  his  letter 
he  first  presents  his  compliments  in  a  formal  manner 
to  Lord  Howe,  and  then  proceeds  to  profess  a  con 
sciousness,  that  the  world  will  censure  him  for  his 
treachery,  in  corresponding  with  the  enemy  of  those 
in  whose  service  he  is  employed,  but  apologizes  by 
asserting,  that  he  had  been  forced  to  accept  his  com 
mission,  for  fear  of  ruin  to  himself  and  family  ;  and 
as  he  had  engaged,  through  compulsion,  by  a  rebel 
lious  mob,  he  can  be  under  no  obligation  to  be  faith 
ful  in  their  service.  Besides  this,  he  adds,  he  had 
previously  taken  Governor  Tryon's  advice,  and  had 
promised  to  do  all  he  could  in  his  new  capacity  for 
his  majesty's  service.  He  then  asserts  that  a  person 
who  is  a  friend  to  the  king,  though  an  interested  one, 
had  offered  to  furnish  him  with  weekly  returns  of  the 
strength  and  detail  of  the  continental  army,  for  the 
sum  of  four  thousand  pounds  sterling,  to  be  paid  in 
advance  in  gold ;  but  that  he  had  agreed  with  him 
to  render  that  service  for  two  thousand  pounds,  which 
sum,  he  requested,  might  be  immediately  conveyed 
to  him.  By  this  criminal  act  the  perfidious  wretch 
had  forfeited  his  life,  according  to  the  articles  of  war, 
but  on  his  trial  by  a  court  martial,  his  life  wras  saved 
by  the  casting  vote  of  a  militia  officer,  who  pretended 
some  scruples  of  conscience  ;  he  was  however  cashier 
ed,  and  declared  incapable  of  holding  any  military 
office  in  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

15 th. — I  have  now  ascertained,  by  accounts  pub 
lished,  that  the  battle  on  Long  Island  took  place  on 
the  27th  of  August.  The  British  and  Hessian  army, 
supposed  to  amount  to  twenty  four  thousand,  landed 
on  the  island  under  cover  of  their  shipping.  The 
9 


66  MILITARY    JOURNAL^  1776. 

continental  army  consisted  of  ten  thousand  five  hun 
dred  and  fourteen  effectives  only  ;  and  these  were  so 
situated,  that  but  a  small  part  could  be  brought  into 
action  ;  the  conflict  therefore  was  extremely  unequal. 
In  point  of  numbers,  of  discipline,  experience  in  war, 
and  of  artillery,  the  enemy  possessed  the  most  de 
cided  advantage ;  besides  the  important  assistance 
afforded  by  a  powerful  fleet.  The  very  judicious 
plan  of  attack  by  the  British  generals  was  carried 
into  execution  with  irresistible  ardor  and  impetuosity. 
The  Americans  defended  themselves  with  great 
bravery,  till  a  considerable  number  of  them  were 
completely  surrounded,  and  the  remainder  dispersed. 
The  palm  of  victory  was  on  the  side  of  the  enemy ; 
and  our  loss  is  very  considerable.  Major  General 
Sullivan,  and  Lord  Sterling,  were  obliged  to  sur 
render  as  prisoners  ;  and  our  total  loss  is  supposed  to 
be  not  less  than  one  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  The  enemy  suffered 
very  severely. 

After  this  unfortunate  skirmishing,  our  army  re 
treated  within  their  lines  at  Brooklyn,  and  were  ex 
posed  to  the  greatest  hazard  ;  our  troops,  fatigued  and 
discouraged  by  defeat,  a  superior  enemy  in  their  front, 
and  a  powerful  fleet  about  to  enter  the  East  River 
with  a  view  of  effectually  cutting  off  their  retreat ; 
but  an  interposition  of  Providence,  and  the  wisdom 
and  vigilance  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  preserved 
our  army  from  destruction.  Having  resolved  to  with 
draw  his  army  from  its  hazardous  position,  General 
Washington  crossed  over  to  the  Island  in  the  night 
of  the  29th  of  August,  and  personally  conducted  the 
retreat  in  so  successful  a  manner,  under  the  most  em 
barrassing  circumstances,  that  it  is  considered  as  a 
remarkable  example  of  good  generalship.  A  circum 
stance  which  is  remarked  as  manifestly  Providential, 
is,  that  a  thick  fog  enveloped  the  whole  of  Long 
Island  in  obscurity  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
while  on  the  side  of  the  enemy  at  New  York,  the 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  67 

atmosphere  was  perfectly  clear.  Thus  by  a  Provi 
dential  interposition  of  an  unusual  fog,  our  army,  con 
sisting  of  nine  thousand  men,  in  one  night  embarked 
under  great  disadvantages,  and  with  their  baggage, 
provisions,  stores,  horses,  and  the  munitions  of  war, 
crossed  a  river,  a  mile  or  more  wide,  and  landed  at 
New  York  undiscovered  and  without  material  loss. 
The  enemy  were  so  near,  that  they  were  heard  at 
work  with  their  pick  axes,  and  in  about  half  an  hour 
after,  the  fog  cleared  off  and  the  enemy  were  seen 
taking  possession  of  the  American  lines. 

20th. — General  Washington,  finding  the  city  of 
New  York  untenable,  has  removed  his  whole  army 
about  nine  miles  up  the  country ;  which  he  effected 
in  safety,  though  under  a  heavy  cannonade  from  the 
British  shipping.  General  Howe  with  his  army  took 
immediate  possession  of  the  city.  Major  General 
Sullivan,  who  was  captured  on  Long  Island,  has  been 
permitted  to  return  on  his  parole ;  and  is  charged 
with  a  message  to  Congress  from  Lord  Howe.  The 
purport  of  the  message  is,  that  his  Lordship,  as  com 
missioner,  could  not  treat  with  Congress,  as  such  ; 
bat  is  desirous  of  a  conference  with  some  of  the  mem 
bers,  as  private  gentlemen.  Congress  could  not  con 
sider  themselves  justified  in  sending  any  of  their 
members  in  their  private  character ;  but,  ever  de 
sirous  of  establishing  peace  on  reasonable  terms,  offer 
ed  to  send  a  committee  to  inquire,  whether  his  Lord 
ship  had  any  authority  to  treat  with  persons  au 
thorized  by  Congress  for  this  purpose,  and  what  that 
authority  was ;  and  to  hear  such  propositions,  as  he 
should  think  proper  to  make  respecting  the  same. 
They  accordingly  made  choice  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Franklin,  John  Adams,  Esq.  and  Edward  Rutledge, 
Esq.  who  had  an  interview  with  Lord  Howe  on  Sta- 
ten  Island.  The  first  proposition  from  his  Lordship 
was,  that  the  colonies  should  return  to  their  allegi 
ance  and  obedience  to  the  government  of  Great 
Britain.  The  committee  expressed  their  opinion. 


68  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

that  a  return  to  the  domination  of  Great  Britain  was 
not  to  be  expected.  They  mentioned  the  repeated 
humble  petitions  of  the  colonies  to  the  King  and  Par 
liament,  which  had  been  treated  with  contempt,  and 
answered  with  additional  injuries ;  the  unexampled 
patience  we  had  shown  under  their  tyrannical  govern 
ment,  and  that  it  was  not  till  the  last  act  of  Parlia 
ment,  which  denounced  wrar  against  us,  and  put  us 
out  of  the  king's  protection,  that  we  declared  our  in 
dependence  ;  and  that  it  is  not  now  in  the  power  of 
Congress  to  agree  that  the  people  should  return  to 
their  former  dependant  state.  The  committee  re 
ported  to  Congress  that  it  did  not  appear,  that  his 
Lordship's  commission  contained  any  othe.r  authority 
of  importance  than  what  is  expressed  in  the  act  of 
Parliament,  namely,  that  of  granting  pardons,  with 
such  exceptions  as  the  commissioners  shall  think  pro 
per  to  make,  and  of  declaring  America,  or  any  part 
of  it,  to  be  in  the  king's  peace  on  submission.  The 
committee  conducted  the  business  with  great  judg 
ment,  and  in  a  manner  becoming  the  dignity  of  their 
character.  The  Congress  adopted  no  other  mea 
sures  on  this  occasion  ;  and  the  British  commissioners, 
finding  that  the  United  States  could  not  relinquish 
their  independency,  published  their  declaration  to 
the  people  at  large,  recommending  to  them  "  to  re 
flect  seriously  on  their  present  conduct  and  expec 
tations,  and  to  judge  for  themselves,  whether  it  is 
more  consistent  with  their  honor  and  happiness  to 
offer  up  their  lives  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  unjust  and 
precarious  cause  in  which  they  are  engaged,  or  to 
return  to  their  allegiance,  accept  the  blessings  of 
peace,  and  be  secured  in  the  free  enjoyment  of  their 
liberties  and  property."  Had  the  declaration  of  in 
dependence  been  deferred  but  a  few  weeks  longer, 
this  proceeding  of  the  commissioners  might  have  been 
productive  of  consequences  exceedingly  disastrous  to 
our  country.  It  would  probably  have  increased  the 
number  of  opposers  to  the  measure,  and  occasioned 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  69 

the  greatest  confusion  and  embarrassment.  It  was 
undoubtly  their  object,  by  a  specious  prospect  of  re 
conciliation,  to  create  a  division  among  the  colonies 
and  people,  and  thereby  paralyze  their  exertions  and 
preparations  for  war.  But  at  the  present  time,  the  de 
claration  of  the  king's  commissioners  is  not  calculated 
to  effect  the  great  purpose  which  they  have  in  view ; 
the  people  at  large  have  become  too  wise  to  be  duped 
and  cajoled  out  of  their  freedom.  They  repose  un 
bounded  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Congress  of 
their  choice ;  and  have  no  disposition  to  counteract 
their  views,  or  embarrass  their  counsels.  The  num 
ber  of  individuals,  who  have  accepted  of  the  proffer 
ed  conditions,  is  supposed  to  be  very  inconsiderable  ; 
and  by  far  the  largest  portion  of  them  are  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  and  its  immediate  vicinity.  By  a  flag 
from  New  York  we  learn,  that  about  five  days  after 
the  British  army  took  possession  of  that  city,  a  de 
structive  fire  broke  out,  and  raged  with  such  vio 
lence,  that  about  one  thousand  houses,  some  of  the 
most  superb  buildings,  being  about  one  quarter  of  the 
whole  city,  were  consumed.  Some  suspicions  were 
entertained  that  this  disaster  was  occasioned  by  Ame 
rican  emissaries,  and  several  persons  had  been  treated 
with  great  cruelty,  though  no  proof  was  produced 
against  them.  There  is  on  the  contrary  much  reason 
to  conclude  that  the  conflagration  was  merely  acci 
dental. 

We  have  the  information,  that  before  bur  army 
evacuated  the  city  of  New  York,  General  Howe's 
army  landed,  under  cover  of  five  ships  of  war,  the 
British  and  Hessians  in  two  separate  divisions.  So 
soon  as  this  was  announced  to  our  Commander  in 
Chief,  by  a  heavy  cannonade  from  the  men  of  war,  he 
instantly  rode  toward  our  lines,  but  he  was  astonished 
and  mortified  to  find  that  the  troops  which  had  been 
posted  there,  and  also  two  brigades  which  had  been 
ordered  to  support  them,  were  retreating  in  great 
confusion  and  disorder.  He  made  every  effort  to 


70  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776. 

rally  them,  but  without  success ;  they  were  so  panic 
struck  that  even  the  shadow  of  an  enemy  seemed  to 
increase  their  precipitate  flight.  His  Excellency, 
distressed  and  enraged,  drew  his  sword  and  snapped 
his  pistols,  to  check  them ;  but  they  continued  their 
flight  without  firing  a  gun ;  and  the  General,  regard 
less  of  his  own  safety,  was  in  so  much  hazard,  that 
one  of  his  attendants  seized  the  reins,  and  gave  his 
horse  a  different  direction.  The  following  fact  is 
of  considerable  interest. 

When  retreating  from  New  York,  Major  General 
Putnam,  at  the  head  of  three  thousand  five  hundred 
continental  troops,  was  in  the  rear  and  the  last  that 
left  the  city.  In  order  to  avoid  any  of  the  enemy 
that  might  be  advancing  in  the  direct  road  to  the 
city,  he  made  choice  of  a  road  parallel  with  and 
contiguous  to  the  North  River,  till  he  could  arrive 
at  a  certain  angle,  whence  another  road  would  con 
duct  him  in  such  a  direction  as  that  he  might  form 
a  junction  with  our  army.  It  so  happened  that  a 
body  of  about  eight  thousand  British  and  Hessians 
were  at  the  same  moment  advancing  on  the  road, 
which  would  have  brought  them  in  immediate  con 
tact  with  General  Putnam,  before  he  could  have 
reached  the  turn  into  the  other  road.  Most  for 
tunately,  the  British  generals,  seeing  no  prospect 
of  engaging  our  troops,  halted  their  own,  and  repair 
ed  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Robert  Murray,  a  quaker 
and  friend  of  our  cause  ;  Mrs.  Murray  treated  them 
with  cake  and  wine,  and  they  were  induced  to  tarry 
two  hours  or  more,  Governor  Tryon  frequently  joking 
her  about  her  American  friends.  By  this  happy 
incident  General  Putnam,  by  continuing  his  march, 
escaped  a  rencounter  with  a  greatly  superior  force, 
which  must  have  proved  fatal  to  his  whole  party. 
One  half  hour,  it  is  said,  would  have  been  sufficient 
for  the  enemy  to  have  secured  the  road  at  the  turn, 
and  entirely  cut  off  General  Putnam's  retreat.  It 
has  since  become  almost  a  common  saying  among  our 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  71 

officers,  that  Mrs.   Murray  saved   this  part  of  the 
American  army. 

I  have  collected  from  the  preceding  pages  of 
my  Journal  some  observations  relative  to  the  forma 
tion  and  character  of  our  army.  After  the  battle 
at  Lexington,  such  was  the  enthusiasm  for  the  cause 
of  liberty,  and  so  general  and  extensive  the  alarm, 
that  thousands  of  our  citizens,  who  were  engaged 
in  the  cultivation  of  their  farms,  spontaneously  rush 
ed  to  the  scene  of  action  ;  and  an  army  was  assembled 
almost  without  the  efforts  of  public  authority.  At 
this  most  eventful  period,  it  was  the  fond  hope  of 
a  large  proportion  of  our  patriotic  leaders,  that  the 
controversy  with  our  parent  country  would  yet  be 
compromised  on  honorable  and  equitable  terms. 
Though  the  haughty  Britons  had  unsheathed  the 
sword,  and  shed  the  blood  of  their  brethren,  it  was 
impossible  to  endure  the  idea,  that  our  loyal  and 
humble  supplications  to  the  king  could  any  longer 
be  contemptuously  rejected  ;  more  especially  after 
a  complete  union  of  all  the  colonies  in  a  determined 
opposition  to  their  tyrannical  measures  was  clearly 
demonstrated.  Calculating  therefore,  that  the  ser 
vices  of  an  army  would  be  required  for  a  short 
period  only,  and  the  troops  in  the  field  consisting 
chiefly  of  minute  men,  volunteers  and  militia,  it  was 
a  considerable  time  before  they  were  regularly  or 
ganized  into  regiments  and  brigades.  In  many  in 
stances  the  soldiers  were  indulged  the  privilege  of 
choosing  their  own  officers ;  the  consequence  was,  as 
might  be  expected,  that  the  choke  did  not  fall  on  the 
most  respectable  and  meritorious,  but  on  those  who 
were  the  most  popular  among  the  lower  class ;  and 
these  too  frequently  proved  unqualified  to  discharge 
their  military  duties  in  a  manner  creditable  to  them 
selves  or  advantageous  to  the  public  service.  Nor 
was  it  to  be  expected  that  this  description  of  people 
could  appreciate  the  importance  of  the  great  desid 
erata  in.  all  armies;  discipline  and  subordination.  It 


72  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776. 

has  been  found,  by  sad  experience,  that  but  little 
dependance  can  be  placed  on  an  army  of  militia,  and 
those  whose  term  of  service  is  so  short  that  they 
are  almost  continually  fluctuating  from  camp  to  their 
farms,  and  in  whom  the  noble  spirit  of  patriotism 
is  in  a  considerable  degree  extinguished.  There  is 
another  evil  of  a  very  serious  complexion  which  has 
manifested  itself  in  our  camp.  Since  the  troops  from 
the  Southern  states  have  been  incorporated  and 
associated  in  military  duty  with  those  from  New 
England,  a  strong  prejudice  has  assumed  its  un 
happy  influence,  and  drawn  a  line  of  distinction 
between  them.  Many  of  the  officers  from  the  South 
are  gentlemen  of  education,  and  unaccustomed  to 
that  equality  which  prevails  in  New  England  ;  and 
however  desirable,  it  could  scarcely  be  expected 
that  people  from  distant  colonies,  differing  in  manners 
and  prejudices,  could  at  once  harmonize  in  friendly 
intercourse.  Hence  we  too  frequently  hear  the  bur 
lesque  epithet  of  Yankee  from  one  party,  and  that 
of  Buckskin,  by  way  of  retort,  from  the  other.  The 
troops  which  compose  the  continental  army  being 
enlisted  for  a  few  months  only,  their  time  of  service 
will  soon  expire.  Congress,  being  apprized  of  the 
absolute  necessity  of  a  permanent  army,  have  lately 
resolved,  "to  raise  a  standing  army  to  consist  of 
about  seventy  five  thousand  men,  to  serve  for  the 
term  of  three  years,  or  during  the  war."  These 
troops,  when  raised,  are  to  be  systematically  arrang 
ed  on  the  continental  establishment,  and  according 
to  their  apportionment,  is  the  quota  of  Massachusetts 
fifteen  battalions,  or  about  twelve  thousand  men. 
To  encourage  enlistments,  each  soldier  is  to  receive 
a  bounty  of  twenty  dollars,  besides  his  wages  and 
allowance  of  rations,  and  one  hundred  acres  of  land, 
if  he  serve  during  the  war.  The  officers  are  to 
receive  land  in  proportion  to  their  respective  ranks, 
from  two  hundred  to  five  hundred  acres.  Their 
monthly  pay  is  to  be  as  follows  : 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 


73 


A  Colonel,  a  month, 
Lieutenant  Colonel, 
Major, 
Chaplain, 
Surgeon, 
Surgeon1s  Mate, 
Adjutant, 
Quarter  Master, 
Regimental  Pay  Master 
Captain, 

g75  > 

60 
50 
33  33 
33  33 
18 
40 
27  50 
,    26  67 
40 

Lieutenant, 
Ensign, 
Sergeant  Major, 
Quarter  Master  Sergeant, 
Drum  Major, 
Fife  Major, 
Sergeant, 
Corporal, 
Drummer  and  Fifer, 
Privates, 

20 
9 
9 
8 

8  33 
8 

7  33 
7  33 
6  67 


Each  commissioned  officer  is  allowed  the  privilege 
of  taking  a  soldier  from  the  ranks  for  a  waiter,  and 
he  is  exempted  from  camp  and  other  duty,  except 
in  time  of  action.  The  officers  are  also  allowed  a 
number  of  rations  in  proportion  to  their  rank.  A 
surgeon  draws  three,  and  a  mate  two  rations.  One 
pound  of  beef  or  pork  ;  one  pound  of  bread  or  flour 
a  day ;  a  small  quantity  of  vegetables,  when  to  be 
had  ;  one  gill  of  rum  or  whiskey  a  day  ;  a  small 
quantity  of  vinegar,  salt,  soap  and  candles,  a  week, 
constitute  a  ration. 

Ticonderoga  is  situated  on  an  angle  of  land  form 
ing  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Champlain  ;  or  rather 
what  is  called  South  Bay  ;  being  the  inlet  into  the 
Lake.  It  is  about  twelve  miles  south  of  the  old 
fortress  at  Crown  Point ;  and  about  one  hundred  and 
ten  miles  north  of  Albany.  This  point  of  land  is 
surrounded  on  three  sides  by  water,  and  on  the 
north  west  side  it  is  well  defended  by  the  old  French 
lines  and  several  block  houses.  The  works  at  this 
place  were  originally  erected  by,  the  French,  in  1756, 
and  the  post  was  considered  of '  high  importance  by 
both  the  French  and  English,  as  commanding  the 
pass  direct  from  Canada  to  the  provinces  of  New 
York  and  New  England.  In  the  war  between  the 
English  and  French,  in  the  year  1759,  it  was  sur 
rendered  to  General  Amherst,  which  was  a  prelude 
to  the  conquest  of  Canada,  by  the  English  and  Pro 
vincial  army.  In  1775,  after  the  commencement  of 
hostilities  at  Lexington,  this  post  was  taken  from 
the  English,  by  a  small  party  of  militia  volunteers 
10 


74  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

under  command  of  Colonel  Allen  and  Colonel  Arnold, 
which  put  the  Provincials  in  possession  of  a  large 
number  of  cannon,  mortars  and  other  ordnance  ;  a 
part  of  which  was  transported  to  Cambridge  during 
the  siege  of  Boston.     On  the  east  side  of  South  Bay, 
directly  opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  is  a  high  circular 
hill,  on  the  summit  of  which  our  army  has  erected 
a  strong  fort,  within  which  is  a  square  of  barracks. 
This  is  called  Mount  Independence.     A  communica 
tion  is  maintained  between  the  two  places  by  a  float 
ing  bridge  thrown  across  the  Lake,  which  is  about 
four  hundred  yards  wide.     The  army  stationed  at  this 
post  at  present,  is  supposed  to  consist  of  about  eight 
or  ten  thousand  men,  and  Major  General  Gates  is 
commander  in  chief.     We   have  a  naval  armament 
on  Lake   Champlain,   below  this  garrison,  which  is 
commanded  by  the  intrepid  General  Arnold  ;  Gen 
eral  Waterbury  is  second  in  command.     The  British 
have  also  a  naval  armament,   of  superior  force,  at 
the  head  of  which  is  the  celebrated   Sir  Guy  Carle- 
ton.      Preparations  are  making  on  both  sides,  for 
a  vigorous  combat  to  decide  which  power  shall  have 
dominion  on  the   Lake.     Should  Sir  Guy  Carleton 
be  able  to  defeat  our  fleet,  it  is  supposed  that  he 
will  pursue  his  victorious  career  by  an   attempt  to 
possess  himself  of  this  garrison  ;  and  our  troops  are 
making  the  utmost  exertion  to  put  our  works  in  the 
best  possible  state  of  defence.     Each  regiment  has  its 
alarm  post  assigned,  and   they  are  ordered  to  repair 
to  it,  and  to  man  the  lines  at  day  light  every  morn 
ing.     Among  our  defensive  weapons  are  poles,  about 
twelve  feet  long,  armed  with  sharp  iron  points,  which 
each  soldier  is  to  employ  against  the  assailants  when 
mounting  the  breast  works.     We  are  happy  to  learn 
from  head  quarters  that  the  two  continental  generals, 
taken  in  the  action  on  Long  Island,  Lord  Stirling 
and  Major  General  Sullivan,  have  returned  to  our 
camp :  being  exchanged  for  General  Prescott,  cap 
tured   in  Canada,  and  Governor   Brown  who  was 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  75 

brought  off  from  New  Providence  by  one  of  our 
armed  vessels. 

October. — By  some  gentlemen  from  head  quarters, 
near  New  York,  we  are  amused  with  an  account  of  a 
singular  machine,  invented  by  a  Mr.  D.  Bushnell  of 
Connecticut,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  British 
shipping  by  explosion.  This  novel  machine  was  so 
ingeniously  constructed,  that,  on  examination,  Major 
General  Putnam  was  decidedly  of  opinion  that  its 
operations  might  be  attended  with  the  desired  suc 
cess  ;  accordingly  he  encouraged  the  inventor,  and 
resolved  to  be  himself  a  spectator  of  the  experiment 
on  the  British  shipping  in  New  York  harbor.  Mr. 
Bushnell  gave  to  his  machine  the  name  of  American 
Turtle  or  Torpedo.  It  was  constructed  on  the  prin 
ciples  of  submarine  navigation,  and  on  trial  it  has 
been  ascertained  that  it  might  be  rowed  horizontally, 
at  any  given  depth  under  water,  and  the  adventurer, 
concealed  within,  might  rise  or  sink,  as  occasion  re 
quires.  A  magazine  of  powder  was  attached  to  it 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  screwed  into  the  bottom  of 
the  ship ;  and  being  now  disengaged  from  the  ma 
chine  the  operator  retires  in  safety,  leaving  the  in 
ternal  clock  work  in  motion  ;  and  at  the  distance  of 
half  an  hour,  or  an  hour,  the  striking  of  a  gun  lock 
communicates  fire  to  the  powder,  and  the  explosion 
takes  place.  It  was  determined  to  make  the  experi 
ment  with  this  machine  in  the  night,  on  the  ship 
Eagle,  of  sixty  four  guns,  on  board  of  which  admiral 
Lord  Howe  commanded.  General  Putnam  placed 
himself  on  the  wharf  to  witness  the  result.  Mr. 
Bushnell  had  instructed  his  brother  in  the  manage 
ment  of  the  Torpedo  with  perfect  dexterity ;  but 
being  taken  sick  a  sergeant  of  a  Connecticut  regiment 
was  selected  for  the  business,  who,  for  want  of  time, 
could  not  be  properly  instructed.  He  however, 
succeeded  so  far  as  to  arrive  in  safety  with  his  appa 
ratus  under  the  bottom  of  the  ship,  when  the  screw, 
designed  to  perforate  the  copper  sheathing,  unfor- 


76  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776. 

tunately  struck  against  an  iron  plate,  near  the  rudder, 
which,  with  the  strong  current  and  want  of  skill  in 
the  operator,  frustrated  the  enterprize  ;  and,  as  day 
light  had  begun  to  appear,  the  sergeant  abandoned 
his  magazine,  and  returned  in  the  Torpedo  to  the 
shore.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  a  terrible  explosion 
from  the  magazine  took  place,  and  threw  into  the 
air  a  prodigious  column  of  water,  resembling  a  great 
water  spout,  attended  with  a  report  like  thunder. 
General  Putnam,  and  others  who  waited  with  great 
anxiety  for  the  result,  were  exceedingly  amused  with 
the  astonishment  and  alarm  which  this  secret  explo 
sion  occasioned  on  board  of  the  ship.  This  failure, 
it  is  confidently  asserted,  is  not  to  be  attributed  to  any 
defect  in  the  principles  of  this  wonderful  machine  ; 
as  it  is  allowed  to  be  admirably  calculated  to  execute 
destruction  among  the  shipping. 

10th. — By  intelligence  from  our  fleet,  on  the  lake, 
'we  are  in  daily  expectation  of  a  decisive  naval  ac 
tion,  as  the  British  are  known  to  have  a  superior 
force  ;  our  officers  here,  I  understand,  are  full  of 
anxiety  respecting  the  important  event.  Great  con 
fidence  is  reposed  in  the  judgment  and  bravery  of 
General  Arnold,  whom  General  Gates  has  appointed 
to  command  our  fleet. 

15  th. — I  have  now  to  record  an  account  of  a 
naval  engagement  between  the  two  fleets  on  Lake 
Champlain.  The  British,  under  command  of  Sir 
Guy  Carleton,  advanced  on  the  llth  instant,  and 
found  our  fleet  in  a  line  of  battle  prepared  for  the 
attack.  A  warm  action  soon  ensued,  and  became 
extremely  close  and  severe,  with  round  and  grape 
shot,  which  continued  about  four  hours.  Brigadier 
General  Watcrbury,  in  the  Washington  galley,  fought 
with  undaunted  bravery,  till  nearly  all  his  officers 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and  his  vessel  greatly  in 
jured  ;  when  General  Arnold  ordered  the  remaining 
shattered  vessels  to  retire  up  the  lake,  towards  Crown 
Point,  in  order  to  refit.  On  the  13th,  they  were 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776.  77 

overtaken  by  the  enemy,  and  the  action  was  renew 
ed,  in  which  was  displayed  the  greatest  intrepidity 
on  both  sides.     The  Washington  galley,  being  crip 
pled  in  the  first  action,  was  soon  obliged  to  strike 
and  surrender.     General  Arnold  conducted  during 
the  action  with  great  judgment,  firmness  and  gallan 
try,  obstinately  defending  himself  against  a  superior 
force,   both  in  numbers  and  weight  of  metal.     At 
length,  however,  he  was  so  closely  pressed  that  his 
situation  became  desperate,  and  he  run  his  own  ves 
sel,  the  Congress  galley,  on  shore,  which  with  five 
gondolas  were  abandoned  and  blown  up.     Out  of  six 
teen  of  our  vessels,  eleven  were  taken  or  destroyed, 
five  only  arrived  safe  at  this  place.      Two  of  the 
enemy's  gondolas  were  sunk  by  our  fleet,  and  one 
blown  up  with  sixty  men.     Their  loss  in  men  is  sup 
posed  to  be  equal  to  our  own,  which  is  estimated  at 
about  one  hundred.     A  large  number  of  troops  were 
on   board   the  British  fleet,  consisting  of  regulars, 
Canadians  and  Savages,  which  have  been  landed  on 
each  side  of  the  lake,  and  it  is  now  expected  that 
Sir  Guy  Carleton,  at  the  head  of  his  army,  reported 
to  be  about  ten  thousand  strong,  will  soon  invest  this 
post.     By  order  of  General  Gates,  our  commander, 
the   greatest   exertions   are   constantly  making,   by 
strengthening  our  works,  to  enable  us  to  give  them 
a  warm  reception  ;  and  our  soldiery  express  a  strong 
desire  to  have  an  opportunity  of  displaying  their 
courage  and  prowess  ;  both  officers  and  men  are  full 
of  activity  and  vigilance. 

~L8th. — It  is  now  ascertained  that  the  British  army 
and  fleet  have  established  themselves  at  Crown  Point, 
and  are  strengthening  the  old  fortifications  at  that 
place.  Some  of  their  vessels  have  approached  with 
in  a  few  miles  of  our  garrison,  and  one  boat  came 
within  cannon  shot  distance  of  our  lower  battery,  in 
order  to  reconnoitre  and  sound  the  channel ;  but  a 
few  shot  having  killed  two  men,  and  wounded  an 
other,  soon  obliged  her  to  retire.  All  our  troops  arc 


78  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1776. 

ordered  to  repair  to  their  alarm  posts,  and  man  the 
lines  and  works ;  every  morning,  our  continental 
colors  are  advantageously  displayed  on  the  ramparts, 
and  our  cannon  and  spears  are  in  readiness  for  action. 

20th. — Ever  since  the  defeat  of  our  fleet  we  have 
been  Providentially  favored  with  a  strong  southerly 
wind,  which  has  prevented  the  enemy's  advancing  to 
attack  our  lines,  and  afforded  us  time  to  receive  some 
reinforcements  of  militia,  and  to  prepare  for  a  more 
vigorous  defence.  It  seems  now  to  be  the  opinion  of 
many  of  our  most  judicious  officers,  that  had  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  approached  with  his  army,  immediately  after 
his  victory  on  the  lake,  the  struggle  must  have  been 
most  desperate,  and  the  result  precarious;  but  we 
now  feel  more  confidence  in  our  strength. 

Several  letters,  lately  received  from  Canada,  ac 
knowledge  that  no  man  ever  manoeuvred  with  more 
dexterity,  fought  with  more  bravery,  or  retreated 
with  more  firmness,  than  did  General  Arnold  on  the 
11  th  and  12th  instant.  After  making  every  effort 
to  compensate,  by  the  advantage  of  situation,  for  the 
inferiority  of  force,  and  seeing  his  own  vessel,  and 
the  rest,  torn  to  pieces  by  the  superior  weight  of 
metal,  and  the  execution  of  the  enemy's  howitzers, 
he  set  fire  to  his  vessel  and  would  not  quit  her  till 
she  was  so  completely  in  flames  that  it  was  impossi 
ble  for  the  enemy  to  strike  her  colors  on  their  arrival, 
and  they  were  left  flying  among  the  flames  to  the 
last.  This,  says  one  of  the  letters,  was  supporting  a 
point  of  honor  in  a  manner  almost  romantic  5  yet  so 
it  was. 

November  1st.— The  enemy  remain  at  Crown  Point, 
and  evince  no  disposition  to  molest  our  garrison,  hav 
ing  probably  discovered  that  our  means  of  defence 
are  too  formidable  for  them  to  encounter.  General 
Gates  has  now  ordered  a  detachment  of  troops  to 
march  towards  Crown  Point,  to  reconnoitre  their  posi 
tion,  or  to  attack  them.  A  report  was  soon  returned 
that  the  whole  fleet  and  army  have  abandoned  Crown 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776.  79 

Point,  and  retired  into  Canada,  where  they  will  pro 
bably  occupy  their  winter  quarters  in  peace,  and  it  is 
not  probable  that  Sir  Guy  Carleton  intends  to  invest 
our  garrison,  at  this  advanced  season,  unless  however, 
he  should  attempt  it  by  marching  his  army  over  the 
ice,  when  the  lake  is  frozen,  which  will  probably  be 
very  practicable. 

15th. — Ticonderoga  is  situated  in  about  latitude 
forty  four  degrees.  I  have  no  means  in  my  possession 
of  ascertaining  the  precise  degree  of  cold ;  but  we  all 
agree  that  it  is  colder  here  than  in  Massachusetts  at 
the  same  season.  The  earth  has  not  yet  been  cover 
ed  with  snow,  but  the  frost  is  so  considerable  that  the 
water  of  the  lake  is  congealed,  and  the  earth  is  frozen. 
We  are  comfortably  situated  in  our  barracks ;  our 
provisions  are  now  good,  and  having  no  enemy  near 
enough  to  alarm  or  disturb  us,  we  have  nothing  of 
importance  to  engage  our  attention.  Our  troops  are 
quite  healthy,  a  few  cases  of  rheumatism  and  pleurisy 
comprize  our  sick  list,  and  it  is  seldom  that  any  fatal 
cases  occur. 

December  Wth. — Intelligence  has  lately  arrived 
at  head  quarters  here,  that  a  British  fleet,  and  a  de 
tachment  of  five  or  six  thousand  of  the  royal  army 
have  taken  possession  of  Newport,  in  Rhode  Island, 
without  any  opposition ;  many  of  the  inhabitants  being 
friendly  to  the  royal  cause,  they  were  received  as 
friends.  By  letters  from  officers,  and  by  other  infor 
mation  from  our  main  army,  we  learn  with  sorrow, 
that  our  affairs  in  that  quarter  are  in  a  most  deplora-  v 
ble  and  almost  desperate  situation.  Since  the  evacu 
ation  of  New  York,  several  battles  and  skirmishes 
have  taken  place  between  the  two  armies,  with  con 
siderable  loss  on  both  sides ;  but  his  Excellency  the 
Commander  in  Chief  has  constantly  avoided  a  general 
action.  Fort  Washington  and  Fort  Lee  have  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  with  a  considerable 
number  of  prisoners ;  and  our  army  being  reduced  y 
to  the  lowest  ebb,  discouraged  and  dispirited,  are  ^ 


80  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

retreating  through  the  Jersey s,  and  the  enemy  in 
close  pursuit.  The  continental  army  has  even  cross 
ed  the  Delaware  and  left  the  whole  state  of  Jersey  in 
the  possession  of  the  royal  army. 

20th. — Another  disaster  ot  much  importance,  is  the 
capture  of  Major  General  Lee  ;  on  the  13th  instant, 
marching  at  the  head  of  his  division  to  join  the  main 
army,  he  very  incautiously  took  up  his  lodgings  at  a 
house  three  or  four  miles  from  his  troops.  Informa 
tion  of  this  was,  hy  some  tories,  communicated  to  Colo 
nel  Harcourt  of  the  British  light  horse,  who  resolved 
to  attempt  his  capture.  Accordingly,  with  a  detach 
ment  of  dragoons,  he  speedily  surrounded  the  house  ; 
made  General  Lee  his  prisoner,  and  not  permitting 
him  time  to  take  his  cloak  and  hat,  mounted  him  on 
a  horse  and  in  triumph  conveyed  him  to  New  York. 
The  loss  of  this  favorite  general  officer,  it  is  feared, 
will  be  attended  with  very  serious  consequences,  as 
respects  the  American  cause.  He  was  from  his  youth 
an  officer  in  the  British  service,  where  he  sustained 
a  reputation  of  the  highest  grade,  as  a  brave  and 
skilful  warrior.  Having  adopted  our  country,  and 
become  a  zealous  advocate  for  its  liberties,  he  had 
acquired  the  confidence  and  highest  regard  of  the 
public,  and  was  exalted  to  the  rank  of  second  in  com 
mand  in  our  army. 

u  Such  is  now  the  gloomy  aspect  of  our  affairs  that 
the  whole  country  has  taken  the  alarm ;  strong  ap 
prehensions  are  entertained  that  the  British  will  soon 

A  have  it  in  their  power  to  vanquish  the  whole  of  the 
remains  of  the  continental  army.  The  term  of  ser 
vice  of  a  considerable  part  of  our  troops  has  nearly 

X  expired,  and  new  recruits  do  not  arrive  in  sufficient 
numbers  to  supply  their  places.  His  Excellency 
General  Washington  is  continually  making  every  pos 
sible  effort  to  produce  a  change  of  circumstances  more 
auspicious  to  our  country.  The  critical  and  distress 
ing  situation  in  which  he  is  placed  is  sufficient  to 
overwhelm  the  powers  of  any  man  of  less  wisdom  and 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1776.  81 

magnanimity  than  our  Commander  in  Chief.  He 
has  the  confidence  and  the  affection  of  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  whole  army ;  and  there  is  not 
perhaps  another  man  to  he  found  so  well  calculated 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  his  important  and  respon 
sible  station.  It  is  generally  agreed  by  our  officers, 
that  in  his  retreat  through  the  Jerseys,  and  over  the 
Delaware,  under  the  most  pressing  difficulties,  he 
displayed  the  talents  and  wisdom  characteristic  of  a 
great  military  commander,  possessing  unfailing  re 
sources  of  mind.  While  retreating  through  the 
Jerseys  with  an  army  not  exceeding  three  thousand 
five  hundred  men,  and  deeming  our  cause  as  almost 
desperate,  he  said  to  Colonel  Reed.,  passing  his  hand 
over  his  throat,  "  my  neck  does  not  feel  as  though 
it  was  made  for  a  halter,  we  must  retire  to  Augusta 
county  in  Virginia,  and  if  overpowerd  we  must  pass 
the  Alleghany  mountains."  General  Washington  at 
this  time  was  suffering  the  most  agonizing  distress 
for  the  fate  of  his  army  and  his  country. 

The  king's  commissioners,  flushed  with  the  success 
of  the  royal  army,  have  availed  themselves  of  the 
occasion,  and  put  forth  another  proclamation,  granting 
pardons  to  all  those  who  shall  within  sixty  days  sub 
scribe  a  declaration  to  remain  peaceable,  not  to  take 
up  arms  nor  encourage  others  to  act  against  the  king's 
authority,  and  at  the  same  time,  they  charge  and 
command  all  who  are  assembled  in  arms  against  his 
Majesty  to  disband,  and  all  under  the  names  of 
General  and  Provincial  Congress  committees,  &c.  to 
desist  from  their  treasonable  practices,  and  relinquish 
their  usurped  power  within  sixty  days  from  the  date 
of  the  proclamation. 

This  production,  couched  in  the  haughty  style  of 
royal  authority,  demands  submission  of  those  who 
have  long  since  been  compelled  to  abjure  all  allegi 
ance  to  the  British  crown.  How  far  the  people  of 
this  continent  may  be  disposed  to  retrace  their  steps, 
to  abandon  the  government  of  their  choice,  relinquish 
11 


82  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1776. 

their  independence  and  succumb  to  arbitrary  power., 
is  a  point  to  be  decided  within  sixty  days.  How 
ever  apparently  forlorn  is  our  situation,  we  presume 
to  hope  that  his  Majesty's  commissioners  will  not 
realize  their  sanguine  expectations,  though  British 
clemency  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  gallows  on  the 
other,  may  be  the  alternative.  The  Congress  resolv 
ed  on  the  12th  instant,  that  it  be  recommended  to 
all  the  United  States  as  soon  as  possible  to  appoint  a 
day  of  fasting  and  humiliation.  This  is  according 
s  to  the  custom  of  our  pious  ancestors  in  times  of  im- 
Xininent  dangers  and  difficulties.  Considering  the 
rapid  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  knowing  it  to  be 
their  intention  to  possess  themselves  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  the  Congress  have  resolved  to  retire  to 
Baltimore  in  Maryland.  They  have  also  ordered, 
that  hand  bills  be  circulated  through  the  states  with 
the  view  of  rousing  the  whole  people  to  a  sense  of 
the  impending  danger,  and  the  calamities  that  will 
ensue  should  the  enemy  succeed  in  the  attempt  to 
get  possession  of  the  capital. 

26th. — A  singular  kind  of  riot  took  place  in  our 
barracks  last  evening,  attended  by  some  unpleasant 
consequences.  Colonel  A.  W.  of  Massachusetts,  made 
choice  of  his  two  sons,  who  were  soldiers  in  his  regi 
ment,  to  discharge  the  menial  duties  of  waiters,  and 
one  of  them  having  been  brought  up  a  shoe  maker, 
the  Colonel  was  so  inconsiderate  as  to  allow  him  to 
work  on  his  bench  in  the  same  room  with  himself. 
This  ridiculous  conduct  has  for  some  time  drawn  on 
the  good  old  man  the  contemptuous  sneers  of  the 
gentlemen  officers,  especially  those  from  Pennsylvania. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  C.  of  Wayne's  regiment,  being 
warmed  with  wine,  took  on  himself  the  task  of  repre 
hending  the  "  Yankee"  Colonel  for  thus  degrading  his 
rank.  With  this  view  he  rushed  into  the  room  in  the 
evening  and  soon  despatched  the  shoe  maker's  bench, 
after  which,  he  made  an  assault  on  the  ColoneFs  person, 
and  bruised  him  severely.  The  noise  and  confusion 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  83 

soon  collected  a  number  of  officers  and  soldiers,  and  it 
was  a  considerable  time  before  the  rioters  could  be 
quelled.  Some  of  the  soldiers  of  Colonel  Wayne's 
regiment  actually  took  to  their  arms  and  dared  the 
Yankees,  and  then  proceeded  to  the  extremity  of 
firing  their  guns.  About  thirty  or  forty  rounds  were 
aimed  at  the  soldiers  of  our  regiment,  who  were 
driven  from  their  huts  and  barracks,  and  several  of 
them  were  severely  wounded.  Colonel  C.  in  making 
an  assault  on  a  superior  officer,  and  encouraging  a 
riot,  is  guilty  of  one  of  the  highest  crimes  in  our 
articles  of  war.  It  was  in  the  power  of  Colonel  W. 
and  in  fact,  it  was  his  duty  to  bring  the  audacious 
offenders  to  exemplary  punishment ;  but,  as  if  to  com 
plete  the  disgrace  of  the  transaction,  Colonel  C.  sent 
some  soldiers  into  the  woods  to  shoot  a  fat  bear,  with 
which  he  made  an  entertainment,  and  invited  Colonel 
W.  and  his  officers  to  partake  of  it ;  this  effected  a 
reconciliation  ;  and  Colonel  W.  was  induced  to  over 
look  the  high  handed  assault  on  his  own  person  and 
on  the  lives  of  his  soldiers.  Our  Colonel  is  a  serious, 
good  man,  but  is  more  conversant  with  the  economy 
of  domestic  life  than  the  etiquette  practised  in  camp. 
January  5th. — At  the  close  of  the  last  year,  the 
situation  of  our  main  army  was  gloomy  and  discourag 
ing,  a  large  proportion  of  the  troops  had  retired  from 
service,  as  their  term  of  enlistment  expired,  and  the 
.small  remains  of  our  army  was  retreating  before  the 
enemy,  and  passed  the  Delaware  for  safety.  It  is 
now  announced  in  our  general  orders,  to  our  inex 
pressible  joy  and  satisfaction,  that  the  scene  is  in 
some  degree  changed,  the  fortune  of  war  is  reversed, 
and  Providence  has  been  pleased  to  crown  the  efforts 
of  our  Commander  in  Chief  with  a  splendid  victory. 
His  Excellency,  having  obtained  information  that  the 
advanced  party  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  about 
fifteen  hundred  Hessians  and  British  light  horse, 
under  command  of  Colonel  Rahl,  was  stationed  at 
the  village  of  Trenton,  concerted  a  plan  for  taking 


84  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

them  by  surprize.  For  this  purpose  he  made  choice 
of  Christmas  night,  under  the  idea  that  in  conse 
quence  of  the  festivity,  they  might  be  less  vigilantly 
guarded.  At  this  time  the  whole  force  under  his 
immediate  command  did  not  exceed  three  thousand 
men.  At  the  head  of  about  two  thousand  four  hun 
dred  men,  one  division  being  commanded  by  Gen 
eral  Greene,  and  the  other  by  General  Sullivan,  he 
crossed  the  river  Delaware  in  boats,  in  the  night  of 
the  25th  of  December,  during  a  severe  storm  of  snow 
and  rain.  The  passage  of  the  boats  was  rendered 
extremely  difficult  and  hazardous  by  the  ice,  and 
part  of  the  troops  and  cannon  actually  failed  in  the 
attempt.  Having  landed  on  the  Jersey  shore,  he 
had  nine  miles  to  march,  and  he  reached  the  village 
about  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  with  such  prompti 
tude  and  secrecy,  as  to  attack  the  enemy  almost  as 
soon  as  his  approach  was  discovered.  A  smart  firing 
ensued,  which  continued  but  a  few  minutes,  when  the 
enemy,  finding  themselves  surrounded,  threw  down 
their  arms  and  surrendered  as  prisoners.  Colonel 
Kahl,  the  commanding  officer,  was  mortally  wounded, 
and  seven  other  officers  were  wounded  and  left  at 
Trenton  on  their  parole.  About  thirty  five  soldiers 
were  killed,  sixty  wounded,  and  nine  hundred  and 
forty  eight,  including  thirty  officers,  were  taken 
prisoners,  amounting  in  all  to  one  thousand  and  forty 
eight.  Of  the  Continentals  not  more  than  ten,  it  is 
supposed,  were  killed  and  wounded.  General  Wash 
ington  recrossed  the  Delaware  the  same  day  in 
triumph,  bringing  off  six  excellent  brass  cannon, 
about  one  thousand  two  hundred  small  arms,  and  three 
standards,  with  a  quantity  of  baggage,  &c.  This 
very  brilliant  achievement  is  highly  honorable  to  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  and  to  all  that  were  engaged  in 
the  enterprize.  We  are  sanguine  in  the  hope  that 
this  most  auspicious  event  will  be  productive  of  the 
happiest  effects,  by  inspiriting  our  dejected  army  and 
dispelling  that  panic  of  despair  into  which  the  peo- 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  85 

pie  have  been  plunged.     General  Washington  allow 
ed  the  Hessian  prisoners  to  retain  their  baggage,  and 
sent  them  into  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania,  ordering    { 
that  they  be  treated  with  favor  and  humanity.     This  A 
conduct,  so  contrary  to  their  expectations,  excited 
their  gratitude  and  veneration  for  their  amiable  con 
queror,  whom  they  styled,  "  a  very  good  rebel" 

15th. — By  some  friends  from  the  main  army,  and 
from  current  report,  it  appears  that  the  British,  hav 
ing  overrun  the  Jerseys,  considered  the  Continental 
army  as  on  the  point  of  annihilation,  and  flattered 
themselves  that  what  they  term  the  rebellion,  is 
effectually  crushed.  In  their  march  through  the 
Jerseys  they  have  committed  such  licentious  ravages 
and  desolation,  as  must  be  deemed  disgraceful  by  all 
civilized  people  ;  an  indiscriminate  robbery  and  plun 
dering  mark  every  step  of  their  progress ;  rapine 
and  murder,  without  distinction  of  friend  or  foe,  age 
or  sex,  has  been  put  in  practice  with  an  inexorable 
spirit,  and  countenanced  by  officers  of  rank  and  dis 
tinction.  Even  those  unfortunate  inhabitants  who 
have  been  deluded  by  their  promises,  and  received 
printed  protections,  are  equally  sufferers  by  these 
cruel  and  atrocious  wretches.  Hundreds  of  inhabi 
tants,  both  male  and  female,  have  been  deprived  of 
their  dwellings  and  sustenance,  stripped  of  their  cloth 
ing,  and  exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the  winter, 
and  to  personal  insult  and  abuse  of  almost  every  de 
scription.  But  their  wicked  career  is  about  to  be 
checked.  Providence  will  not  suffer  such  enormities 
to  be  perpetrated  with  impunity.  Those  miserable 
inhabitants,  whose  lives  have  been  spared,  are  driven 
to  desperation,  and  feel  that  they  have  no  hope  but 
in  the  extirpation  of  their  cruel  enemies.  The  peo 
ple  who  have  been  subdued,  have  with  a  noble  spirit, 
risen  on  their  conquerors,  and  are  resolved  to  revenge 
the  injuries  which  they  have  suffered. 

We  are  now  informed  of  another  very  important 
advantage  which  General  Washington  has  gained 


86  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

over  the  royal  army  by  means  of  a  well  concerted 
stratagem.  After  his  success  at  Trenton,  General 
Washington  received  considerable  reinforcements  of 
troops  from  Virginia  and  Maryland,  and  some  regi- 
ments  of  militia,  which  enabled  him  again  to  cross 
the  Delaware  into  the  Jerseys  and  face  the  enemy. 
While  at  Trenton,  Lord  Cornwallis  advanced  to  attack 
him,  and  a  severe  cannonade  commenced.  In  the 
evening,  General  Washington  ordered  a  great  number 
of  fires  to  be  lighted  up,  and  leaving  a  sufficient  num 
ber  of  men  to  keep  them  burning  during  the  night,  to 
deceive  the  enemy,  stole  a  march  with  his  main  army, 
taking  a  circuitous  route,  and,  at  9  o'clock  the  next 
morning,  attacked  three  regiments  of  the  British  who 
were  posted  at  Princeton,  routed  them,  and  drove 
them  from  their  redoubts.  By  this  masterly  ma 
noeuvre,  the  enemy  lost  about  five  hundred  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners.  The  loss  on  our  side  is 
very  inconsiderable  in  point  of  numbers,  but  we  have 
to  lament  the  death  of  Brigadier  General  Mercer, 
a  brave  officer  who  commanded  the  Virginia  militia. 
The  fact  is  published,  that  after  General  Mercer  sur 
rendered  himself,  the  enemy,  deaf  to  the  voice  of 
humanity,  stabbed  him  with  their  bayonets,  and  with 
the  butt  end  of  a  musket  battered  and  disfigured  his 
face  in  a  savage  manner.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  that 
on  this  memorable  occasion  Lord  Cornwallis  was 
completely  out  generated  ;  while  he  was  expecting 
to  find  the  Continental  army  at  their  lighted  fires  at 
Trenton,  he  was  astonished  and  confounded  to  hear 
the  firing  occasioned  by  this,  same  army,  beating  up 
their  quarters  twelve  miles  in  his  rear.  His  lordship 
immediately  repaired  by  a  forced  march  to  Princeton, 
but  arrived  too  late  to  retaliate  on  his  vigilant  an 
tagonist  who  had  taken  up  his  route  to  Morristown. 
Finding  that  the  Continentals  were  out  of  his  reach, 
his  lordship  proceeded  without  halting,  to  Bruns 
wick.  Stratagems  in  war,  when  wisely  concerted, 
and  judiciously  executed,  are  considered  as  charac- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  87 

terizing  a  military  genius  of  superior  order,  and  is 
a  quality  of  inestimable  value  in  every  commander. 
It  is  often  exultingly  remarked  in  our  camp,  that 
Washington  was  born  for  the  salvation  of  his  coun 
try,  and  that  he  is  endowed  with  all  the  talents  and 
abilities  necessary  to  qualify  him  for  the  great  under 
taking.  The  militia  of  Jersey,  immediately  on  their 
being  liberated  from  the  control  of  the  British,  flew  \/ 
tojirjiSj  exasperated  and  stimulated  by  a  recollection, 
of  their  sufferings,  and  have  become  their  most  bitter 
and  determined  enemies ;  and  are  very  active  and 
vigilant  in  harassing  them  on  all  occasions,  keeping 
a  continual  watch,  and  cutting  off  small  parties  when 
ever  opportunities  offer.  It  is  gratifying  to  the  army 
that  Congress  have  conferred  on  their  Generalissimo 
more  ample  powers,  and  appointed  him  Dictator  for 
the  limited  term  of  six  months ;  to  reform  and  new 
model  the  military  arrangements,  in  such  manner  as  he 
may  judge  most  advantageous  for  the  public  service. 
Much  good  is  expected  to  result  from  this  measure. 

30th. — It  is  with  infinite  satisfaction  we  learn,  that 
the  royal  army  has  been  compelled  to  quit  almost 
every  part  of  the  Jerseys,  and  that  our  army  is  pur 
suing  them  from  post  to  post,  and  they  find  no  security 
but  in  the  vicinity  of  their  shipping. 

General  Washington  has  issued  a  proclamation  com 
manding  all  persons  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegi 
ance  to  Great  Britain,  and  accepted  protections  and 
certificates,  to  deliver  up  the  same,  and  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  United  States.  Granting  at  the 
same  time  full  liberty  to  all  those  who  prefer  the 
protection  of  Great  Britain  to  the  freedom  and  hap 
piness  of  their  country,  forthwith  to  withdraw  them 
selves  and  families  to  the  enemy's  lines. 

The  winter  hitherto  has  been  mild  and  temperate  ; 
Lake  Cham  plain  is  now  frozen  over,  and  the  ice  is 
about  one  foot  thick,  the  earth  is  covered  with  snow, 
but  the  storms  have  not  been  very  violent,  and  the 
cold  not  so  intense  as  might  be  expected  in  a  northern 


88  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

climate.  There  have  been  frequent  instances  of  per 
sons  being  detected  lurking  about  the  country  who 
are  employed  by  the  enemy  in  enlisting  soldiers  for 
the  tory  regiments  in  New  York.  In  order  effec 
tually  to  prevent  this  nefarious  conduct,  every  per 
son  of  this  description  who  may  fall  into  our  hands  is 
to  be  tried  by  a  court  martial,  and  if  found  guilty, 
will  be  executed  as  a  spy.  A  few  days  since  one 
Daniel  Strong  was  found  lurking  about  our  army  at 
Peekshill,  and  on  examination  enlisting  orders  were 
found  sewed  in  his  clothes  5  he  was  immediately  tried 
as  a  spy  from  the  enemy,  sentenced  to  suffer  death, 
and  was  executed  accordingly. 

February. — The  present  unfortunate  situation  of 
General  Lee,  who  is  in  close  confinement  in  the  pro 
vost  prison,  in  New  York,  affords  a  topic  for  general 
conversation  both  in  and  out  of  the  army.  A  cor 
respondence  between  General  Washington  and  Gene 
ral  Howe  has  taken  place  relative  to  the  subject,  from 
which  it  appears  that  General  Lee  receives  the  most 
rigid  and  ungenerous  treatment,  under  the  absurd  pre 
tence  that  he  is  a  deserter  from  the  British  service, 
when  it  is  well  known  that  he  resigned  his  commission 
long  before  he  received  an  appointment  in  our  army. 
As  we  have  not  in  our  possession  any  British  officers 
of  equal  rank,  General  Washington  has  proposed  to 
make  an  exchange  of  six  Hessian  field  officers  for 
General  Lee,  that  being  considered  as  the  usual  pro 
portion  for  the  disparity  of  rank.  This  proposal  be 
ing  rejected,  his  Excellency  next  required  of  General 
Howe  that  General  Lee  should  receive  from  his  hands 
treatment  suitable  to  his  rank,  and  such  as  the  custom 
of  all  armies  has  prescribed  for  prisoners  of  war.  If 
this  should  be  refused,  General  Howe  was  assured, 
that  the  unpleasant  expedient  of  retaliation  should  be 
immediately  adopted.  This  unhappy  affair  soon  ar 
rested  the  attention  of  Congress,  and  they  resolved 
"  that  General  Washington  inform  General  Howe,  that 
should  the  proffered  exchange  of  General  Lee  not  be 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  89 

accepted,  and  the  ill  treatment  of  him  be  continued, 
the  principle  of  retaliation  shall  occasion  five  of  the 
Hessian  field  officers,  together  with  Lieutenant  Colonel 
A.  Campbell,  or  any  other  officers  that  are  or  may 
be  in  our  possession,  equivalent  in  number  or  quality, 
to  be  detained  in  order  that  the  same  treatment  which 
General  Lee  shall  receive  may  be  exactly  inflicted 
on  their  persons."  The  result  of  this  unfortunate 
business  is,  that  the  threatened  retaliation  has  been 
resorted  to  on  our  part,  and  that  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Campbell,  and  five  Hessian  field  officers  are  com 
mitted  to  prison,  and  subjected  to  the  same  rigorous 
treatment  which  has  been  ascertained  is  inflicted 
on  the  person  of  General  Lee.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Campbell,  being  on  parole  near  Boston,  is  confined  in 
the  jail  at  Concord.  In  a  letter  to  General  Howe, 
which  has  been  published,  after  acknowledging  the 
liberal  and  generous  attention  which  he  had  pre 
viously  received,  he  describes  his  present  condition  as 
being  most  horrid,  and  in  his  view  altogether  unjusti 
fiable.  It  remains  therefore  with  General  Howe  to 
afford  to  Colonel  Campbell  all  the  relief  which  he  de 
sires,  and  extend  to  him  all  the  comforts  and  privi 
leges  which  his  rank  demands,  by  first  relaxing  his 
severity,  and  complying  wTith  the  rules  of  war,  as 
respects  General  Lee  ;  it  being  the  determination  of 
our  government  to  place  the  British  prisoners  in  pre 
cisely  the  same  circumstances  with  our  prisoners  in 
their  custody.  My  leisure  hours  permit  me  to  ad 
vert  to  another  subject  which  excites  the  interest  and 
the  inexpressible  indignation  of  every  American.  I 
allude  to  the  abominable  conduct  of  the  British  com 
manders  towards  our  unfortunate  officers  and  soldiers, 
who,  by  the  fortune  of  war,  have  fallen  into  their 
hands.  In  all  countries  and  armies,  prisoners  of  war 
have  a  just  claim  on  the  duties  of  humanity ;  from  the 
moment  of  their  captivity  hostilities  should  cease,  the 
sword  should  be  sheathed;  being  themselves  disarmed, 
no  arm  can  of  right  be  lifted  against  them,  and  while 
12 


90  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

they  conduct  in  a  manner  becoming  their  condition, 
they  are  entitled  to  the  customary  immunities,  and  to 
he  treated  with  lenity.  Among  the  savage  tribes 
we  know  their  captives  are  tortured  by  fire,  by  the 
scalping  knife,  and  the  tomahawk,  but  we  are  yet, 
and  for  the  honor  of  human  nature,  hope  we  ever 
shall  remain  unacquainted  with  any  civilized  nation 
except  the  English,  who  devote  their  captives  to 
various  forms  of  destruction.  It  would  seem  that  the 
application  of  the  term  rebel  to  our  prisoners,  is  suf 
ficient  to  reconcile  the  consciences  of  their  victors  to 
inflict  on  them  the  most  unprecedented  cruelties. 
The  following  is  a  brief  summary  of  the  systematic 
method  adopted  and  practised  for  their  destruction, 
as  taken  from  the  New  London  Gazette,  from  General 
Washington's  letter  of  complaint  to  General  Howe, 
and  from  the  verbal  statement  of  the  officers  and  sol 
diers  who  have  returned  from  New  York  by  ex 
change.  They  were  crowded  into  the  holds  of  prison 
ships  where  they  were  almost  suffocated  for  want  of 
air,  and  into  churches,  and  open  sugar  houses,  &c. 
without  covering  or  a  spark  of  fire.  Their  allow 
ance  of  provisions  and  water  for  three  days,  was  in 
sufficient  for  one,  and  in  some  instances,  they  were  for 
four  days  entirely  destitute  of  food.  The  pork  and 
bread,  for  they  had  no  other  sustenance,  and  even 
the  water  allowed  them,  were  of  the  worst  possible 
quality,  and  totally  unfit  for  human  beings.  A  minute 
detail  of  their  dreadful  sufferings  would  only  serve  to 
harrow  up  the  feelings  of  surviving  friends ;  as  a  gross 
outrage  against  the  principles  of  humanity,  suffice  it  to 
say,  that  in  consequence  of  the  most  barbarous  treat 
ment,  died  within  a  few  weeks,  not  less  than  fifteen 
hundred  American  soldiers,  brave  young  men,  the 
pride  and  shield  of  our  country.  After  death  had 
released  the  sufferers,  their  bodies  were  dragged  out 
of  the  prisons  and  piled  up  without  doors,  till  enough 
\vere  collected  for  a  cart  load,  when  they  were  carted 
out  and  tumbled  into  a  ditch,  and  slightly  covered 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  91 

with  earth.  Besides  the  above  diabolical  treatment, 
the  prisoners  were  continually  insulted  and  tantalized 
by  the  British  officers,  and  malicious  tories,  cursing 
and  swearing  at  them  as  rebels,  saying,  "  this  is  the 
just  punishment  of  your  rebellion ;  nay,  you  are 
treated  too  well  for  rebels,  you  have  not  received 
half  you  deserve,  and  half  you  shall  receive  ;  but  if 
you  will  enlist  in  his  majesty's  service,  you  shall  have 
victuals  and  clothing  enough. "  Thus  these  callous 
hearted  Englishmen  meanly  endeavored  to  augment 
the  royal  army  by  the  enlistment  of  American  prison 
ers,  or  to  diminish  the  number  of  their  opposers; 
but  such  was  the  integrity  and  patriotism  of  these 
men,  that  hundreds  submitted  to  death  rather  than 
become  rebels  to  their  own  native  country.  In  one 
instance,  four  of  our  wounded  officers,  of  respectable 
rank,  were  put  into  a  common  dirt  cart  and  conveyed 
through  the  streets  of  New  York  as  objects  of  deri 
sion,  reviled  as  rebels,  and  treated  with  the  utmost 
contempt.*  But,  it  may  be  inquired,  if  I  mean  to 
describe  the  British  commanders  as  transformed  into 
demons  ? 

I  only  record  notorious  facts,  and  it  is  not  my  jour 
nal,  but  the  faithful  and  impartial  pages  of  history 
that  will  transmit  to  posterity  this  stigma  on  the  Eng 
lish  character.  Gracious  heavens  !  are  these  the  peo 
ple  from  whom  we  derive  our  origin,  and  who  are  in 
viting  the  Americans  to  a  reconciliation  ?  A  more 


*  A  friend,  who  was  unfortunately  a  prisoner  in  New  York,  has 
recently  favored  me  with  the  following  facts.  In  1776,  a  number  of 
prisoners  were  made  by  the  British  in  our  retreat  from  Long  Island. 
Among  others,  a  Lieutenant  Dunscomb,  of  New  York.  He  and  his 
fellow  officers  were  ordered  before  the  commanding  general,  who,  in 
harsh  language,  reproached  them  for  their  crime  of  rebellion  and  its 
necessary  consequences.  A  gentleman  present,  began  to  plead  their 
youth  as  an  apology.  It  won't  do,  said  General  Howe,  you  shall  all 
be  hanged  !  Hang,  and  be  d — d,  said  Dunscomb.  They  hanged  no  one 
that  I  know  of,  but  they  plaved  the  fool  by  going  through  the  farce  of 
making  them  ride  with  a  rope  round  their  necks  seated  on  coffins  to 
the  gallows.  Otho  Williams,  subsequently  Adjutant  General  to  the 
southern  arm}',  arid  a  most  worthy  and  amiable  gentleman,  I  particu 
larly  know  was  treated  in  this  manner. 


92  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

dreadful  curse  can  scarcely  be  denounced !  It  is  worthy 
of  observation,  that  the  British  arid  Hessian  pri 
soners  in  our  hands  were  treated  in  a  manner  directly 
the  reverse  of  that  just  described,  and  they  never 
found  cause  to  complain.  It  is  some  satisfaction  to 
find,  that  since  the  brilliant  success  of  our  army  in  the 
Jerseys,  and  a  considerable  number  of  British  and 
Hessians  having  fallen  into  our  hands,  the  cruel  severi 
ties  inflicted  on  our  prisoners  have  been  in  some  de 
gree  mitigated.  To  the  foregoing  unparalleled  cata 
logue  of  criminal  proceedings,  I  have  to  add,  from 
another  writer,  that  the  enemy  wantonly  destroyed 
the  New  York  water  works,  an  elegant  public  library 
at  Trenton,  and  the  grand  orrery  made  by  the  cele 
brated  Rittenhousc,  which  was  placed  in  the  college 
at  Princeton,  a  piece  of  mechanism  which  the  most 
untutored  savage,  staying  the  hand  of  violence,  would 
have  beheld  with  wonder  and  delight.  Thus  are 
our  cruel  enemies  warring  against  liberty,  virtue  and 
the  arts  and  sciences.  To  make  war  against  litera 
ture  and  learning  is  the  part  of  barbarians.  I  cannot 
resist  the  temptation  to  transcribe  a  few  paragraphs 
from  an  elegant  speech  of  Governor  Livingston  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  March 
the  5th.  "  They  have  plundered  friends  and  foes  ; 
effects,  capable  of  division,  they  have  divided ;  such 
as  were  not,  they  have  destroyed  :  they  have  warred 
on  decrepid  old  age,  warred  on  defenceless  youth ; 
they  have  committed  hostilities  against  the  professors 
of  literature  and  the  ministers  of  religion,  against  pub 
lic  records  and  private  monuments ;  books  of  improve 
ment,  and  papers  of  curiosity ;  and  against  the  arts 
and  sciences.  They  have  butchered  the  wounded, 
asking  for  quarter ;  mangled  the  dead,  weltering  in 
their  blood ;  refused  to  the  dead  the  rites  of  sepulture ; 
suffered  prisoners  to  perish  for  want  of  sustenance  ; 
insulted  the  persons  of  females ;  disfigured  private 
dwellings  of  taste  and  elegance,  and  in  the  rage  of 
impiety  and  barbarism,  profaned  edifices  dedicated  to 
Almighty  God." 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  93 

Lake  Champlain  is  now  open  and  free  from  ice  in 
its  whole  extent,  and  the  hostile  Indians  begin  to 
lurk  about  our  lines,  laying/wait  for  their  prey.  A 
party  of  these  savages  in  the  British  interest,  a  few 
days  since,  discovered  about  thirty  of  our  unarmed 
recruits  on  their  way  to  join  their  corps  at  Fort 
George,  they  immediately  made  their  attack,  killed 
and  tomahawked  some,  made  several  prisoners,  and 
escaped  towards  Canada ;  a  few  of  these  men  fortu 
nately  escaped,  and  several  that  were  wounded  were 
brought  into  our  lines.  Colonel  Whitcomb  with  a 
party  of  continentals  was  ordered  to  pursue  the  In 
dians,  he  overtook  part  of  them  and  killed  several, 
but  the  prisoners  were  carried  off  beyond  his  reach. 

An  enterprize  of  little  importance  has  lately  been 
put  in  execution  by  a  detachment  of  royalists  from 
New  York.  Their  object  was  to  destroy*  some  stores 
which  were  deposited  at  Peekskill.  General  McDou- 
gal,  who  had  the  command  of  the  post,  with  a  small 
number  of  men,  found  it  prudent  to  retire,  and  the 
enemy  accomplished  in  part  the  object  of  the  expedi 
tion.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Willet  however,  with  only 
sixty  men,  came  on  them  by  surprize,  when  a  skirmish 
ensued  which  obliged  them  to  retire  with  great  pre 
cipitation  on  board  their  vessels  in  the  North  River, 
after  having  suffered  a  considerable  loss. 

April  1st. — The  term  of  service  of  Colonel  Whit- 
comb's  regiment  having  expired,  they  have  now  left 
the  service  and  returned  to  New  England.  Having 
received,  an  invitation  from  Dr.  Jonathan  Potts,  the 
surgeon  general  in  this  department,  to  accept  the 
office  of  surgeon's  mate  in  the  general  hospital,  I 
have  received  the  said  appointment  and  commenced 
my  official  duties  accordingly  at  this  place ;  Dr.  D. 
Townsend  being  at  the  same  time  appointed  senior 
surgeon.  We  find  here  about  eighty  soldiers  labor 
ing  under  various  diseases,  and  eight  or  ten  that  have 
been  cruelly  wounded  by  the  savages  who  have  been 
sculking  in  the  woods  in  the  vicinity.  In  our  retired 


94  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

situation  here,  we  are  unacquainted  with  any  military 
transactions  in  other  quarters  till  they  transpire  in  the 
public  papers. 

May. — It  is  just  announced  that  the  enemy  have 
undertaken  an  expedition  to  Danbury,  in  Connecticut? 
for  the  purpose  of  destroying  a  magazine  of  stores  at 
that  place.  Governor  Tryon,  a  Major  General  of  the 
Provincial  troops  in  New  York,  was  the  commander 
of  the  detachment,  consisting  of  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  men,  and  Brigadier  General  Agnevv,  and 
Sir  W.  Erskirie  were  commanders  under  him.  When 
the  enemy  had  landed  and  commenced  their  opera 
tions  in  their  usual  manner,  by  burning  and  destroying 
houses,  and  other  buildings,  the  country  was  alarmed, 
the  militia  collected,  and  were  commanded  by  Major 
General  Wooster,  Brigadier  Generals  Arnold  and 
Silliman.  A  smart  action  soon  ensued  and  continued 
about  one  hour,  in  which  our  militia  and  a  small 
number  of  continentals  conducted  with  distinguished 
bravery,  but  being  overpowered  by  a  superior  force, 
they  were  obliged  to  retreat.  The  amount  of  stores 
destroyed  by  the  enemy  was  very  considerable,  but 
the  loss  of  valuable  officers  and  men  is  infinitely  more 
important.  General  Wooster  was  mortally  wounded, 
and  died  soon  after.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Gould  and 
four  or  five  other  officers  were  killed,  and  about 
sixty  men  were  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the 
slain  is  Dr.  Atwater,  a  respectable  character  whose 
death  is  greatly  lamented.  General  Arnold  had  his 
horse  shot  under  him  when  within  ten  yards  of  the 
enemy,  and  a  soldier  was  advancing  with  fixed  bayo 
net  towards  him,  when,  with  great  presence  of  mind, 
he  drew  his  pistol  from  his  holsters  and  instantly  shot 
him  through  the  body.  On  the  side  of  the  royalists 
the  loss,  as  stated  by  General  Howe,  is  one  hundred 
and  seventy  two  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  but 
by  other  accounts  it  is  much  more  considerable. 
Among  their  wounded  is  Brigadier  General  Agnew 
and  two  other  field  officers. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  95 

A  captain  Roofa,  and  his  Lieutenant,  two  noted 
lories,  lately  taken  in  arms  as  they  were  marching  to 
wards  the  enemy,  were  condemned  by  a  court  martial 
and  hanged  at  Esopus,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  as  a 
suitable  reward,  says  a  writer  in  the  newspaper,  for 
their  treasonable  practices,  they  having  induced  a 
number  of  others  to  enlist  in  the  service  of  the 
enemy. 

June. — Congress  have  appointed  Major  General 
Schuyler  to  command  in  the  northern  department, 
including  Albany,  Ticonderoga,  Fort  Stanwix  and 
their  dependencies,  and  Major  General  St  Clair  has 
the  immediate  command  of  the  posts  of  Ticonderoga 
and  Mount  Independence.  It  is  also  understood,  that 
the  British  government  have  appointed  Lieutenant 
General  Burgoyne,  commander  in  chief  of  their  army 
in  Canada,  consisting,  it  is  said,  of  eight  or  ten  thou 
sand  men.  According  to  authentic  reports,  the  plan 
of  the  British  government  for  the  present  campaign 
is,  that  General  Burgoyne's  army  shall  take  possession 
of  Ticonderoga,  and  force  his  wray  through  the  coun 
try  to  Albany ;  to  facilitate  this  event,  Colonel  St. 
Leger  is  to  march  with  a  party  of  British,  Germans, 
Canadians  and  Indians  to  the  Mohawk  river,  and 
make  a  diversion  in  that  quarter.  The  royal  army 
at  New  York,  under  command  of  General  Howe  is  to 
pass  up  the  Hudson  river,  and,  calculating  on  success 
in  all  quarters,  the  three  armies  are  to  form  a  junction 
at  Albany.  Here,  probably,  the  three  commanders 
are  to  congratulate  each  other  on  their  mighty  achieve 
ments,  and  the  flattering  prospect  of  crushing  the  re 
bellion.  This  being  accomplished,  the  communica 
tion  between  the  southern  and  eastern  states  will  be 
interrupted,  and  New  England,  as  they  suppose,  may 
become  an  easy  prey.  Judging  from  the  foregoing 
detail,  a  very  active  campaign  is  to  be  expected,  and 
events  of  the  greatest  magnitude  are  undoubtedly  to 
be  unfolded.  The  utmost  exertions  are  now  making 
to  strengthen  our  works  at  Ticonderoga,  and  if  pos- 


96  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

sible,  to  render  the  post  invulnerable.  Mount  Inde 
pendence,  directly  opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  is  strong 
ly  fortified  and  well  supplied  with  artillery.  On  the 
summit  of  the  mount  which  is  table  land,  is  erected 
a  strong  fort,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  convenient 
square  of  barracks,  a  part  of  which  are  occupied  for 
our  hospital.  The  communication  between  these  two 
places  is  maintained  by  a  floating  bridge  ;  it  is  sup 
ported  on  twenty  two  sunken  piers  of  very  large  tim 
ber,  the  spaces  between  these  are  filled  with  separate 
floats,  each  about  fifty  feet  long  and  twelve  wide, 
strongly  fastened  together  with  iron  chains  and  rivets. 
A  boom  composed  of  large  pieces  of  timber  well 
secured  together  by  riveted  bolts,  is  placed  on  the 
north  side  of  the  bridge,  and  by  the  side  of  this  is 
placed  a  double  iron  chain,  the  links  of  which  are 
one  and  a  half  inch  square.  The  construction  of  this 
bridge,  boom  and  chain,  of  four  hundred  yards  in 
length,  has  proved  a  most  laborious  undertaking,  and 
the  expense  must  have  been  immense.  It  is  how 
ever  supposed  to  be  admirably  adapted  to  the  double 
purpose  of  a  communication,  and  an  impenetrable 
barrier  to  any  vessels  that  might  attempt  to  pass  our 
works.  By  way  of  amusement  I  went  with  three 
gentlemen  of  our  hospital  to  endeavor  to  explore  a 
high  mountain  in  this  vicinity.  With  much  diffi 
culty  we  clambered  up  and  reached  the  summit. 
From  this  commanding  eminence  we  had  one  of  the 
most  singularly  romantic  views  which  imagination  can 
paint.  Northward  we  behold  Lake  Champlain,  a 
prodigious  expanse  of  unruffled  water,  widening  and 
straitening  as  the  banks  and  clifts  project  into  its 
channel.  This  lake  extends  about  one  hundred  miles 
towards  Quebec,  and  is  from  one  to  five  miles  wide. 
On  each  side  is  a  thick  uninhabited  wilderness  varie 
gated  by  hills  and  dales ;  here  the  majestic  oak,  ches- 
nut  and  pine,  rear  their  lofty  heads ;  there  the  dimi 
nutive  shrub  forms  a  thicket  for  the  retreat  of  wild 
beasts.  Looking  south  west  from  our  stand  we  have 


MILITARY    10URNAL,  1777.  97 

a  view  of  part  of  Lake  George,  emptying  its  waters  into 
Lake  Champlain,  near  Ticonderoga.  Turning  to  the 
east,  the  prodigious  heights  called  Green  Mountains, 
ascending  almost  to  the  clouds,  are  exhibited  to  view, 
with  the  settlements  in  that  tract  of  territory  called 
New  Hampshire  grant.  The  ancient  fortress  at 
Crown  Point,  is  about  twelve  miles  north  of  this  place ; 
it  is  by  nature  a  very  strong  position,  but  it  has  been 
abandoned  by  both  armies. 

July  1st. — We  are  now  assailed  by  a  proclamation 
of  a  very  extraordinary  nature  from  General  Bur- 
goyne,  enumerating  a  string  of  titles,  which  he  has 
doubtless  received  from  his  royal  master  as  a  reward 
for  his  merit.  From  the  pompous  manner  in  which 
he  has  arrayed  his  titles,  we  are  led  to  suppose,  that 
he  considers  them  as  more  than  a  match  for  all  the 
military  force  which  we  can  bring  against  him. 
They  stand  thus, 

"  By  John  Burgoyne,  Esquire,  Lieutenant  Gen 
eral  of  his  Majesty's  forces  in  America*  Colonel  of 
the  Queen's  regiment  of  Light  Dragoons,  Gover 
nor  of  Fort  William,  in  North  Britain,  one  of  the 
Commons  of  Great  Britain  in  Parliament,  and 
commanding  an  army  and  fleet  employed  on  an 
expedition  from  Canada,  fyc.  fyc."  This  sanguinary 
proclamation  is  to  be  viewed  as  the  forerunner  of  his 
formidable  army,  and  all  the  opposers  of  his  authority 
are  menaced  with  his  avenging  power.  "  I  have,'7 
says  the  proclamation,  ((  but  to  give  stretch  to  the 
Indian  forces  under  my  direction,  and  they  amount 
to  thousands,  to  overtake  the  hardened  enemies  of 
Great  Britain  and  America.  I  consider  them  the 
same  wherever  they  may  lurk."  The  British  minis 
try,  not  satisfied  with  the  disgraceful  expedient  of 
hiring  foreign  mercenaries,  resort  also  to  the  savages 
of  the  wilderness  for  aid  in  the  glorious  cause  of 
tyranny  and  of  spreading  the  horrors  of  war  by  fire 
and  sword  throughout  our  country.  The  militia  of 
New  England  are  daily  coming  in  to  increase  our 
13 


98  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

strength ;  the  number  of  our  troops,  and  our  ability  to 
defend  the  works  against  the  approaching  enemy,  are 
considerations  which  belong  to  our  commanding  offi 
cers  ;  in  their  breasts  let  the  important  secret  remain, 
and  in  their  superior  judgment  our  confidence  must 
be  reposed.  One  fact,  however,  is  notorious,  that 
when  the  troops  are  directed  to  man  the  lines,  there 
is  not  a  sufficient  number  to  occupy  their  whole  ex 
tent.  It  appears,  nevertheless,  so  far  as  I  can  learn, 
to  be  the  prevalent  opinion,  that  we  shall  be  able  to 
repel  the  meditated  attack  and  defeat  the  views  of 
the  royal  commander ;  both  officers  and  men  are  in 
high  spirits  and  prepared  for  the  contest. 

July  2d. — The  British  army  is  now  approaching, 
some  of  their  savage  allies  have  been  seen  in  the 
vicinity  of  our  out  works,  which,  with  the  block  house 
beyond  the  old  French  lines,  has  this  day  been  aban 
doned.  On  the  3d  and  4th,  the  enemy  are  making 
their  approaches  and  gaining  as  is  supposed  some  ad 
vantages.  They  have  taken  possession  of  Mount 
Hope,  our  batteries  are  now  opened,  and  a  can 
nonading  has  commenced.  General  St.  Clair  endea 
vors  to  animate  the  troops,  and  orders  every  man  to 
repair  to  the  alarm  posts  at  morning  and  evening 
roll  call,  and  to  be  particularly  alert  and  vigilant. 
There  seems  to  be  a  diversity  of  opinion  whether 
General  Burgoyne  intends  to  besiege  our  garrison,  or 
to  attempt  to  possess  himself  of  it  by  an  assault  on 
our  lines. 

5th. — It  is  with  astonishment  that  we  find  the  ene 
my  have  taken  possession  of  an  eminence  called 
Sugar-loaf  Hilly  or  Mount  Defiance,  which,  from  its 
height  and  proximity,  completely  overlooks  and  com 
mands  all  our  works  at  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  In 
dependence.  This  mount  it  is  said  ought  long  since- 
to  have  been  fortified  by  our  army,  but  its  extreme 
difficulty  of  access,  and  the  want  of  a  sufficient  num 
ber  of  men  are  the  reasons  assigned  for  its  being  neg 
lected.  The  situation  of  our  garrison  is  viewed  as 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  99 

critical  and  alarming ;  a  few  days,  it  is  expected,  will 
decide  our  fate.  We  have  reason  to  apprehend  the 
most  fatal  effects  from  their  battery  on  Sugar-loaf  Hill. 
14th. — By  reason  of  an  extraordinary  and  unex 
pected  event,  the  course  of  my  Journal  has  been 
interrupted  for  several  days.  At  about  12  o'clock, 
in  the  night  of  the  5th  instant,  I  was  urgently  called 
from  sleep,  and  informed  that  our  army  was  in  motion, 
and  was  instantly  to  abandon  Tieonderoga  and  Mount 
Independence,  I  could  scarcely  believe  that  my  in 
formant  was  in  earnest,  but  the  confusion  and  bustle 
soon  convinced  me  that  it  was  really  true,  and  that 
the  short  time  allowed  demanded  my  utmost  industry. 
It  was  enjoined  on  me  immediately  to  collect  the  sick 
and  wounded,  and  as  much  of  the  hospital  stores  as 
possible,  and  assist  in  embarking  them  on  board  the 
batteaux  and  boats  at  the  shore.  Having  with  all 
possible  despatch  completed  our  embarkation,  at  3 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  6th,  we  commenced  our 
voyage  up  the  South  bay  to  Skeensborough,  about 
30  miles.  Our  fleet  consisted  of  five  armed  gallies 
and  two  hundred  batteaux  and  boats  deeply  laden 
with  cannon,  tents,  provisions,  invalids  and  women. 
We  were  accompanied  by  a  guard  of  six  hundred 
men,  commanded  by  Colonel  Long,  of  New  Hampshire. 
The  night  was  moon  light  and  pleasant,  the  sun  burst 
forth  in  the  morning  with  uncommon  lustre,  the  day 
was  fine,  the  water's  surface  serene  and  unruffled. 
The  shore  on  each  side  exhibited  a  variegated  view 
of  huge  rocks,  caverns  and  clifts,  and  the  whole  was 
bounded  by  a  thick  impenetrable  wilderness.  My 
pen  would  fail  in  the  attempt  to  describe  a  scene  so 
enchantingly  sublime.  The  occasion  was  peculiarly 
interesting,  and  we  could  but  look  back  with  regret, 
and  forward  with  apprehension.  We  availed  our 
selves,  however,  of  the  means  of  enlivening  our 
spirits.  The  drum  and  fife  afforded  us  a  favorite 
music ;  among  the  hospital  stores  we  found  many 
dozen  of  choice  wine,  and  breaking  off  their  necks 


100  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

we  cheered  our  hearts  with  the  nectareous  contents. 
At  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  our  des 
tined  port  at  Skeensborough,  being  the  head  of 
navigation  for  our  gallies.  Here  we  were  unsuspicious 
of  danger,  but  behold  !  Burgoyne  himself  was  at  our 
heels.  In  less  than  two  hours  we  were  struck  with 
surprize  and  consternation  by  a  discharge  of  cannon 
from  the  enemy's  fleet,  on  our  gallies  and  batteaux 
laying  at  the  wharf.  By  uncommon  efforts  and  in 
dustry  they  had  broken  through  the  bridge,  boom 
and  chain,  which  cost  our  people  such  immense  labor, 
and  had  almost  overtaken  us  on  the  lake,  and  hor 
ridly  disastrous  indeed  would  have  been  our  fate.  It 
was  not  long  before  it  was  perceived  that  a  number 
of  their  troops  and  savages  had  landed,  and  were 
rapidly  advancing  towards  our  little  party.  The 
officers  of  our  guard  now  attempted  to  rally  the  men 
and  form  them  in  battle  array ;  but  this  was  found 
impossible,  every  effort  proved  unavailing,  and  in  the 
utmost  panic,  they  were  seen  to  fly  in  every  direc 
tion  for  personal  safety.  In  this  desperate  condition, 
I  perceived  our  officers  scampering  for  their  baggage  ; 
I  ran  to  the  batteau,  seized  my  chest,  carried  it  a 
short  distance,  took  from  it  a  few  articles,  and  instant 
ly  followed  in  the  train  of  our  retreating  party.  We 
took  the  route  to  Fort  Ann,  through  a  narrow  defile 
in  the  woods,  and  were  so  closely  pressed  by  the 
pursuing  enemy,  that  we  frequently  heard  calls  from 
the  rear  to  "  march  on,  the  Indians  are  at  our  heels." 
Having  marched  all  night  we  reached  Fort  Ann  at 
5  o'clock  in  the  morning,  where  we  found  provisions 
for  our  refreshment.  A  small  rivulet  called  Wood 
Creek  is  navigable  for  boats  from  Skeensborough  to 
Fort  Ann,  by  which  means  some  of  our  invalids  and 
baggage  made  their  escape  ;  but  all  our  cannon,  pro 
visions,  and  the  bulk  of  our  baggage,  with  several  in 
valids,  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

On  the  7th  instant,  we  received  a  small  reinforce 
ment  from  Fort  Edward,  by  order  of  Major  General 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  101 

Schuyler,  and  on  discovering  that  a  detachment  of 
the  enemy  under  command  of  Colonel  Hill  had  ar 
rived  in  our  vicinity,  a  party  from  our  fort  was  order 
ed  to  attack  them  in  their  covert  in  the  woods.  The 
two  parties  were  soon  engaged  in  a  smart  skirmish, 
which  continued  for  several  hours,  and  resulted 
greatly  to  our  honor  and  advantage  ;  the  enemy, 
being  almost  surrounded,  were  on  the  point  of  sur 
rendering,  when  our  ammunition  being  expended,  and 
a  party  of  Indians  arriving  and  setting  up  the  war 
whoop,  this  being  followed  by  three  cheers  from  their 
friends  the  English,  the  Americans  were  induced  to 
give  way  and  retreat.  One  Surgeon  with  a  wounded 
Captain  and  twelve  or  fifteen  privates,  were  taken 
and  brought  into  our  fort.  The  Surgeon  informed 
me  that  he  was  in  possession  of  books,  &c.  taken  from 
my  chest  at  Skeensborough,  and  singular  to  relate, 
some  of  the  British  prisoners  obtained  in  the  same 
manner,  and  had  in  their  pockets,  a  number,  of  private 
letters  which  I  had  received  from  a  friend  in  Massa 
chusetts,  and  which  were  now  returned  to  me.  Fort 
Ann  being  a  small  picket  fort  of  no  importance, 
orders  were  given  to  set  it  on  fire,  and  on  the  8th, 
we  departed  for  Fort  Edward,  situated  about  30  miles 
southward,  on  the  banks  of  Hudson  river.  General 
St.  Clair  with  his  main  army  from  Ticonderoga,  took 
a  circuitous  route  through  the  woods  to  Hubbard- 
town,  and  Charlestown,  in  the  New  Hampshire  grants, 
and  being  pursued  by  a  strong  detachment  from  Bur- 
goyne's  army,  his  rear  guard,  commanded  by  Colo 
nel  Francis,  was  overtaken,  and  on  the  7th  instant,  a 
very  close  and  severe  engagement  took  place,  in 
which  bloody  conflict,  the  brave  Colonel  Francis  fell 
with  other  valuable  officers,  while  fighting  with  dis 
tinguished  gallantry.  The  Americans  made  an 
honorable  defence,  and  finally  a  secure  retreat.  We 
lost  in  this  action  about  three  hundred,  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners.  The  enemy,  according  to 
estimation,  about  two  hundred.  On  the  12th,  Gen- 


102  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

eral  St.  Glair  arrived  here  with  the  remains  of  his 
army,  greatly  distressed  and  worn  down  by  fatigue. 
General  Schuyler  is  commander  at  this  post,  he  has 
a  small  army  of  continentals  and  militia,  and  is  making 
every  possible  exertion,  by  taking  up  bridges,  throw 
ing  obstructions  in  the  roads  and  passes,  by  fallen 
trees,  &c.  to  impede  the  march  of  Burgoyne's  army 
towards  Albany. 

The  abandonment  of  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  In 
dependence  has  occasioned  the  greatest  surprize  and 
alarm.  No  event  could  be  more  unexpected  nor 
more  severely  felt  throughout  our  army  and  country. 
This  disaster  has  given  to  our  cause  a  dark  and 
gloomy  aspect,  but  our  affairs  are  not  desperate,  and 
our  exertions  ought  to  be  in  proportion  to  our  mis 
fortunes  and  our  exigencies.  The  conduct  of  Gen 
eral  St.  Clair  on  this  occasion  has  rendered  him  very 
unpopular,  and  subjected  him  to  general  censure  and 
reproach  ;  there  are  some,  indeed,  who  even  accuse 
him  of  treachery ;  but  time  and  calm  investigation 
must  decide  whether  he  can  vindicate  himself  as  a 
judicious  and  prudent  commander.  There  is  much 
reason  to  suppose  that  neither  the  strength  of  Bur- 
goyne's  army,  nor  the  weakness  of  our  garrison  were 
properly  considered  or  generally  understood.  It 
must  be  universally  conceded,  that  when  the  enemy 
had  effected  their  great  object  by  hoisting  cannon 
from  tree,  to  tree,  till  they  reached  the  summit  of 
Sugar-loaf  Hill)  the  situation  of  our  garrison  had 
become  perilous  in  the  extreme.  General  Schuyler 
is  not  altogether  free  from  public  reprehension,  alleg 
ing  that  he  ought  in  duty  to  have  been  present  at 
Ticonderoga  during  the  critical  period.  It  is  pre 
dicted  by  some  of  our  well  informed  and  respectable 
characters,  that  this  event,  apparently  so  calamitous, 
will  ultimately  prove  advantageous,  by  drawing  the 
British  army  into  the  heart  of  our  country,  and 
thereby  place  them  more  immediately  within  our 
power. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  103 

It  may  be  deemed  ludicrous  that  I  should  record 
a  rumor  so  extravagantly  ridiculous  as  the  follow 
ing,  but  it  has  received  too  much  credence  to  be- 
altogether  omitted.  It  has  been  industriously  report 
ed,  that  generals  Schuyler  and  St.  Clair,  acted  the 
part  of  traitors  to  their  country,  and  that  they  were 
paid  for  their  treason  by  the  enemy  in  silver  balls, 
shot  from  Burgoyne's  guns  into  our  camp,  and  that 
they  were  collected  by  order  of  General  St.  Clair 
and  divided  between  him  and  General  Schuyler. 

25th. — The  sick  soldiers  under  my  care  at  this 
place  have  been  accommodated  in  barracks  and  tents. 
I  have  now  received  orders  to  accompany  them  to 
the  hospital  at  Albany,  about  55  miles ;  boats  being 
provided,  we  embarked  about  forty  sick  and  invalids, 
and  proceeded  down  the  North  river,  and  arrived  on 
the  third  day  at  the  place  of  our  destination. 

August  3d. — The  pleasing  information  is  received 
here  that  Lieutenant  Colonel  Barton,  of  the  Rhode 
Island  militia,  planned  a  bold  exploit  for  the  purpose 
of  surprizing  and  taking  Major  General  Prescott,  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  royal  army  at  Newport 
Taking  with  him,  in  the  night,  about  forty  men  in 
two  boats  with  oars  muffled,  he  had  the  address  to 
elude  the  vigilance  of  the  ships  of  war,  and  guard 
boats,  and  having  arrived  undiscovered  at  the  quar 
ters  of  General  Prescott,  they  were  taken  for  the 
sentinels,  and  the  General  was  not  alarmed  till  his 
captors  were  at  the  door  of  his  lodging  chamber, 
which  was  fast  closed.  A  negro  man,  named  Prince, 
instantly  thrust  his  beetle  head  through  the  pannel 
door  and  seized  his  victim  while  in  bed.  The  gen- 
eraPs  aid  de  camp  leaped  from  a  window  undressed 
and  attempted  to  escape,  but  was  taken,  and  with 
the  general  brought  off  in  safety.  In  repassing  the 
water  guards,  General  Prescott  said  to  Colonel  Barton, 
"  Sir,  I  did  not  think  it  possible  you  could  escape 
the  vigilance  of  the  water  guards/'  This  is  the 


104  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

second  time  that  General  Prescott  has  been  a  prisoner 
in  our  hands  within  two  years.  This  adventure  is 
extremely  honorable  to  the  enterprizing  spirit  of 
Colonel  Barton,  and  is  considered  as  ample  retalia 
tion  for  the  capture  of  General  Lee  by  Colonel 
Harcourt.  The  event  occasions  great  joy  and  ex 
ultation,  as  it  puts  in  our  possession  an  officer  of 
equal  rank  with  General  Lee,  by  which  means 
an  exchange  may  be  obtained.  Congress  resolv 
ed  that  an  elegant  sword  should  be  presented  to 
Colonel  Barton  for  his  brave  exploit.  It  has  been 
ascertained  that  General  Howe  has  relaxed  in  his 
rigid  treatment  of  General  Lee,  and  conducted  to 
wards  him  in  a  manner  suitable  to  his  rank.  The 
Hessian  officers,  on  whom  retaliation  had  been  inflict 
ed,  are  also  restored  to  their  former  condition  as 
prisoners  of  war. 

It  appears  by  the  papers,  that  Congress  resolved, 
on  the  14th  of  June  last,  that  the  flag  of  the  thirteen 
United  States  be  thirteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and 
white,  that  the  union  be  thirteen  stars,  white  in  a 
blue  field,  representing  a  new  constellation. 

His  Excellency  General  Washington,  at  his  quar 
ters  in  the  Jerseys,  has  published  a  manifesto  in 
answer  to  General  Burgoyne's  proclamation,  from 
which  I  extract  a  few  paragraphs.  He  observes, 
"The  associated  armies  in  America  act  from  the 
noblest  motives,  and  for  the  purest  purposes, — their 
common  object  is  liberty.  The  same  principles  ac 
tuated  the  arms  of  Rome  in  the  days  of  her  glory, 
and  the  same  object  was  the  reward  of  Roman  valor. 
When  these  sacred  ideas  are  profaned,  when  the 
abominable  mixture  of  mercenary,  foreign  and  sav 
age  forces  dare  to  mention  the  love  of  country,  and 
the  general  privileges  of  mankind,"  referring  to 
Burgoyne's  proclamation,  "  the  freemen  of  America 
protest  against  such  abuse  of  language  and  prostitu 
tion  of  sentiment."  In  another  paragraph,  "  We 
beg  leave  to  observe,  if  the  power  of  his  Britannic 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  105 

Majesty's  fleets  and  armies  have  been  driven  from 
Boston,  repulsed  from  Charleston,  cut  off  at  Treri- 
ton,  expelled  the  Jerseys,  and  be  now  after  almost 
three  campaigns,  commencing  its  operation,  that  this 
is  a  power  we  do  not  dread."  In  the  close,  "  Ha 
rassed  as  we  are  by  unrelenting  persecution,  obliged 
by  every  tie  to  repel  violence  by  force,  urged  by 
self  preservation  to  exert  the  strength  which  Provi 
dence  has  given  us  to  defend  our  natural  rights 
against  the  aggressor ;  we  appeal  to  the  hearts  of  all 
mankind  for  the  justice  of  our  cause  ;  its  event  we 
submit  to  Him  who  speaks  the  fate  of  nations,  in 
humble  confidence  that  as  his  omniscient  eye  taketh 
note  even  of  the  sparrow  that  falleth  to  the  ground, 
so  He  will  not  withdraw  his  countenance  from  a  peo 
ple  who  humbly  array  themselves  under  his  banner 
in  defence  of  the  noblest  principles,  with  which  he 
hath  adorned  humanity."  It  is  a  matter  of  pride 
to  our  country  that  our  Commander  in  Chief  has  ex 
hibited  a  production  so  far  surpassing  in  dignity  of 
sentiment  and  justness  of  observation  the  pompous 
proclamation  to  which  this  is  a  rejoinder.  It  is  no 
less  satisfactory  to  reflect,  that  the  measure  referred 
to  has  not  been  productive  of  those  glorious  advan 
tages  to  the  royal  cause,  or  the  dire  consequences 
as  respects  our  own,  which  the  sanguine  spirit  of  its 
author  had  contemplated.  Though  he  threatened 
us  with  all  the  outrages  of  war,  arrayed  in  terrific 
forms,  aided  by  savages  eager  to  be  let  loose  on  their 
prey,  yet  the  proclamation  has  been  viewed  rather 
as  a  curious  model  of  an  ostentatious  display  of  self 
importance  than  a  formidable  weapon  calculated  to 
awe  a  free  people  into  submission. 

8th. — We  have  just  been  apprized,  by  express 
from  the  Mohawk  country,  that  Colonel  St.  Leger, 
and  Sir  John  Johnson,  with  a  body  of  Britons,  Cana 
dians,  tories  and  Indians,  had  invested  Fort  Schuyler, 
one  hundred  and  ten  miles  from  Albany,  that  General 
Herkimer,  with  about  eight  hundred  militia,  was  ad- 
14 


106  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

vancing  to  disperse  this  motley  collection,  and  to  re 
lieve  the  garrison ;  but  unfortunately  he  fell  into  an 
ambuscade  and  suffered  a  considerable  loss.  Being 
himself  wounded  in  both  legs,  he  was  seen  sitting  on 
a  stump  and  courageously  encouraging  his  men,  by 
which  they  maintained  their  ground  and  did  great 
execution  among  the  enemy.  Several  of  the  Indian 
chiefs  were  slain  by  the  first  fire,  which  so  disheart 
ened  the  remainder,  that  they  were  thrown  into  the 
greatest  confusion,  and  turning  on  the  tories,  and 
other  white  people,  a  warm  contention  ensued  be 
tween  them,  and  many  of  the  whites  were  killed. 
Colonel  Gansevort,  the  commander  of  the  fort,  sent 
out  Lieutenant  Colonel  Willet  with  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  who  bravely  routed  the  Indians  and  tories, 
destroyed  their  provisions  and  took  their  kettles, 
blankets,  muskets,  tomahawks,  deer  skins,  &c.  with 
five  colors,  and  returned  to  the  fort.  The  brave 
General  Herkirner  soon  died  of  his  wounds,  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  of  his  militia  men,  having  fought 
like  lions,  were  killed,  besides  a  great  number  wound 
ed.  St.  Leger's  victory  over  our  militia  was  pur 
chased  at  a  dear  price,  more  than  seventy  of  his  In 
dians  were  slain,  and  among  them  a  large  proportion 
of  their  most  distinguished  and  favorite  warriors,  and 
the  survivors  were  exceedingly  dissatisfied.  The 
object  of  the  expedition  was  far  from  being  accom 
plished  ;  the  commander  did  not  however  despair  of 
getting  possession  of  the  fort,  for  this  purpose  he  sent 
in  a  flag  demanding  a  surrender.  He  greatly  magni 
fied  his  own  strength,  asserted  that  Burgoyne  was  at 
Albany ;  and  threatened  that  on  refusal  his  Indians 
would  destroy  all  the  inhabitants  in  the  vicinity,  and 
so  soon  as  they  could  enter  the  fort  every  man  would 
be  sacrificed.  Colonel  Gansevort  nobly  replied  in 
the  negative,  being  determined  to  defend  the  fort  at 
every  hazard,  aware  however,  of  his  perilous  situa 
tion,  he  found  means  of  sending  to  General  Schuyler 
at  Stillwater  for  assistance.  General  Arnold  was 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  107 

now  despatched  with  a  brigade  of  troops  to  attack 
the  besiegers ;  but  finding  their  force  greatly  supe 
rior  to  his  own,  he  sent  back  for  a  reinforcement  of 
one  thousand  light  troops. 

An  object  which  cannot  be  accomplished  by  force 
is  often  obtained  by  means  of  stratagem.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  John  Brooks,  an  intelligent  officer  from  Mas 
sachusetts,  being  in  advance  with  a  small  detachment, 
fortunately  found  one  Major  Butler,  a  noted  officer 
among  the  Indians,  endeavoring  to  influence  the  in 
habitants  in  their  favor,  and  he  was  immediately 
secured.  A  man  also  by  the  name  of  Cuyler,  who 
was  proprietor  of  a  handsome  estate  in  the  vicinity, 
was  taken  up  as  a  spy.  Colonel  Brooks  proposed 
that  he  should  be  employed  as  a  deceptive  messenger 
to  spread  the  alarm  and  induce  the  enemy  to  retreat. 
General  Arnold  soon  after  arrived,  and  approved 
the  scheme  of  Colonel  Brooks ;  it  was  accordingly 
agreed  that  Cuyler  should  be  liberated  and  his  estate 
secured  to  him  on  the  condition  that  he  would  re 
turn  to  the  enemy  and  make  such  exaggerated  report 
of  General  Arnold's  force  as  to  alarm  and  put  them 
to  flight.  Several  friendly  Indians  being  present, 
one  of  their  head  men  advised  that  Cuyler's  coat 
should  be  shot  through  in  two  or  three  places  to  add 
credibility  to  his  story.  Matters  being  thus  adjusted, 
the  impostor  proceeded  directly  to  the  Indian  camp, 
where  he  was  well  known,  and  informed  their  war 
riors  that  Major  Butler  was  taken,  and  that  him 
self  narrowly  escaped,  several  shot  having  passed 
through  his  coat,  and  that  General  Arnold  with  a 
vast  force  was  advancing  rapidly  towards  them.  In 
aid  of  the  project,  a  friendly  Indian  followed  and 
arrived  about  an  hour  after,  with  a  confirmation  of 
Cuyler' s  report.  This  stratagem  was  successful,  the 
Indians  instantly  determined  to  quit  their  ground,  and 
make  their  escape,  nor  was  it  in  the  power  of  St.  Leger 
and  Sir  John,  with  all  their  art  of  persuasion  to  pre 
vent  it.  When  St.  Leger  remonstrated  with  them,  the 


108  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

reply  of  the  chiefs  was,  "  When  we  marched  down, 
you  told  us  there  would  be  no  fighting  for  us 
Indians,  we  might  go  down  and  smoke  our  pipes ; 
but  now  a  number  of  our  warriors  have  been  killed, 
and  you  mean  to  sacrifice  us."  The  consequence  was, 
that  St.  Leger,  finding  himself  deserted  by  his  In 
dians,  to  the  number  of  seven  or  eight  hundred, 
deemed  his  situation  so  hazardous  that  he  decamped 
in  the  greatest  hurry  and  confusion,  leaving  his  tents 
with  most  of  his  artillery  and  stores  in  the  field. 
General  Arnold  with  his  detachment  was  now  at 
liberty  to  return  to  the  main  army  at  Still  water ;  and 
thus  have  we  clipped  the  right  wing  of  General  13 ur- 
goyne.  In  the  evening,  while  on  their  retreat,  St. 
Leger  and  Sir  John  got  into  a  warm  altercation, 
criminating  each  other  for  the  ill  success  of  the  ex 
pedition.  Two  Sachems  observing  this,  resolved  to 
have  a  laugh  at  their  expense.  In  their  front  was 
a  bog  of  clay  and  mud,  they  directed  a  young  war 
rior  to  loiter  in  the  rear,  and  then,  of  a  sudden  run 
as  if  alarmed,  calling  out  they  are  coming,  they  are 
coming.  On  hearing  this,  the  two  commanders  in 
a  fright  took  to  their  heels,  rushing  into  the  bog,  fre 
quently  falling  and  sticking  in  the  mud,  and  the  men 
threw  away  their  packs  and  hurried  off.  This  and 
other  jokes,  were  several  times  repeated  during  the 
night  for  many  miles. 

30/A. — The  city  of  Albany  is  situated  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Hudson,  or  North  river,  160  miles  north 
from  New  York,  and  the  river  admits  of  sloop  navi 
gation  between  these  two  cities.  It  consists  of  about 
three  hundred  houses,  chiefly  in  the  gothic  style,  the 
gable  ends  to  the  street.  There  is  an  ancient  Dutch 
church  of  stone,  a  Congregational  church,  and  a 
decent  edifice  called  City  Hall,  which  accommodates 
occasionally  their  general  assembly  and  courts  of  jus 
tice.  The  hospital  was  erected  during  the  last 
French  war,  it  is  situated  on  an  eminence  overlook 
ing  the  city.  It  is  two  stories  high,  having  a  wing 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  109 

at  each  end  and  a  piazza  in  front  above  and  below. 
It  contains  forty  wards,  capable  of  accommodating  five 
hundred  patients,  besides  the  rooms  appropriated  to 
the  use  of  surgeons  and  other  officers,  stores,  &c. 

Our  army  under  General  Schuyler  have  left  their 
unimportant  station  at  Fort  Edward,  and  having 
made  a  stand  for  a  few  days  at  Saratoga,  they  fell 
back  to  Stillwater,  twenty  five  miles  above  Albany, 
where  they  have  taken  their  station,  and  are  daily 
receiving  reinforcements  of  militia  and  some  conti 
nental  troops.  On  the  retreat  of  our  army  from  Fort 
Edward,  Major  Hull  commanded  the  rear  guard, 
and  being  two  miles  in  the  rear,  was  attacked  by  a 
large  body  of  the  enemy,  and  after  a  severe  contest, 
in  which  he  lost  thirty  or  forty  of  his  men,  he  was 
compelled  to  retreat.  He  received  the  thanks  of 
General  Schuyler  for  his  brave  and  judicious  conduct. 
General  Burgoyne,  we  learn,  is  extremely  embarrass 
ed,  and  his  march  greatly  impeded  by  the  obstruc 
tions  in  the  roads  effected  by  order  of  General  Schuy 
ler  ;  he  has  at  length  however,  surmounted  numerous 
difficulties,  and  reached  the  vicinity  of  Saratoga., 
Finding  himself  in  want  of  provisions,  horses  to 
mount  his  cavalry,  and  teams  to  transport  his  stores 
and  baggage,  he  resorted  to  one  of  the  most  chimeri 
cal  and  romantic  projects  that  could  enter  the  imagi 
nation  of  man.  Being  informed  that  a  large  quantity 
of  stores,  corn,  cattle,  &c.  were  deposited  at  Benning- 
ton,  in  the  New  Hampshire  grants,  he  planned  an  expe 
dition  for  the  purpose  of  possessing  himself  of  this  trea 
sure.  Presuming,  probably,  that  his  late  success  and 
his  manifesto  had  produced  such  wonderful  effects, 
that  no  more  opposition  would  be  made  to  his  pro 
gress  in  the  country.  He  despatched  Colonel  Baum, 
a  German  officer,  with  a  party  of  five  hundred  Hes 
sians  and  tories,  and  one  hundred  Indians,  with  two 
field  pieces.  The  Colonel  was  furnished  with  the 
following  curious  instructions,  which  fell  into  the 
hands  of  General  Stark.  "  To  proceed  through  the 


110  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

New  Hampshire  Grants,  cross  the  mountains,  scour 
the  country,  with  Peter's  corps  (tories)  and  the 
Indians,  from  Rockingham  to  Otter  creek,  to  get 
horses,  carriages,  and  cattle,  and  mount  Reidesel's 
regiment  of  dragoons,  to  go  down  Connecticut 
river  as  far  as  Brattleborough,  and  return  by  the 
great  road  to  Albany,  there  to  meet  General  Bur- 
goyne,  to  endeavor  to  make  the  country  believe  it 
was  the  advanced  body  of  the  General's  army  who 
was  to  cross  Connecticut  river  and  proceed  to  Bos 
ton  ;  and  that  at  Springfield  they  were  to  be  join 
ed  by  the  troops  from  Rhode  Island.  Ml  officers, 
civil  and  military,  acting  under  the  Congress,  were 
to  be  made  prisoners.  To  tax  the  towns  where  they 
halted,  with  such  articles  as  they  wanted,  and  take 
hostages  for  the  performance,  fyc.  You  are  to 
bring  all  horses  Jit  to  mount  the  dragoons  or  to 
serve  as  battalion  horses  for  the  troops,  with  as 
many  saddles  and  bridles  as  can  be  found.  The 
number  of  horses  requisite  besides  those  for  the 
dragoons  ought  to  be  thirteen  hundred,  if  you  can 
bring  more  so  much  the  better.  The  horses  must 
be  tied  in  strings  of  ten  each,  in  order  that  one  man 
may  lead  ten  horses"  This  redoubtable  comman 
der  surely  must  be  one  of  the  happiest  men  of  the 
age,  to  imagine,  that  such  prodigious  achievements 
were  at  his  command  ;  that  such  invaluable  resources 
were  within  his  grasp.  But,  alas !  the  wisest  of  men 
are  liable  to  disappointment  in  their  sanguine  calcu 
lations,  and  to  have  their  favorite  projects  frustrated 
by  the  casualties  of  war.  This  is  remarkably  verified 
in  the  present  instance.  Preceded  by  the  manifesto, 
and  having  his  commission  in  his  pocket,  Colonel  Baum 
inarched,  on  the  14th  of  August,  at  the  head  of  his 
command,  to  execute  the  orders  of  his  general ;  he 
proceeded  about  twelve  or  thirteen  miles,  where  he 
halted  and  secured  himself  by  entrenchments.  It 
was  a  Providential  circumstance,  that  General  Stark 
was  at  or  near  Bennington,  with  about  eight  hun- 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  Ill 

tired  New  England  militia,  part  of  whom  being  from 
the  New  Hampshire  Grants,  are  called  Green  Moun 
tain  boys.     He  advanced  towards  the  enemy  to  recon 
noitre  their  position,  and  some  skirmishing  ensued, 
in  which  thirty  of  them  with  two  Indian  chiefs  were 
killed  and  wounded,   with  little  loss  on  our  side. 
Colonel  Baum,  alarmed  at  his  situation,  despatched  a 
messenger  to  Burgoyne  for  a  reinforcement.     The 
15th  being  a  very  rainy  day,  there  was  only  some 
skirmishing  in  small  parties.     On  the  16th,  General 
Stark,    assisted    by    Colonel  Warner,    matured   his 
arrangements  for  battle ;  he  divided  his  troops  into 
three  divisions,  and  ordered  Colonel  Nichols,  with 
two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  to  gain  the  rear  of  the 
left  wing  of  the  enemy,  and  Colonel  Hendrick  the 
rear  of  their  right  wing,  with  three  hundred  men, 
while  he  attacked  their  front.     The  Indians,  alarmed 
at  the  appearance  of  being  surrounded,  endeavored 
to  make  their  escape  in  a  single  file  between  the  two 
parties,  with  their  horrid  yells  and  the  gingling  of 
cow  bells.     The  flanking  parties  approaching  each 
other   in  their  rear,  and  General  Stark,  making  a 
bold  and  furious  onset  in  front,  a  general  and  close 
conflict  ensued,   and  continued  with  more  or   less 
severity  for  about  two  hours.    Though  Colonel  Baum 
had  nearly  twice  their  numbers,  and  was  defended 
by  breastworks,   the  force  opposed  to  them  proved 
irresistible,  forcing  their  breast  works  at  the  muzzles 
of  their  guns,  and  obliging  them  to  ground  their  arms 
and  surrender  at  discretion,  so  that  the  victory  on  our 
part  was  complete.    We  took  two  pieces  of  brass  can 
non,  and  a  number  of  prisoners,  with  baggage,  &c. 
This  was  no  sooner  accomplished,  than  Colonel  Brey- 
man,  with  one  thousand  German  troops,  arrived  with 
two  field  pieces,  to  reinforce  Colonel  Baum,  who  had 
just  been  defeated.    General  Stark' s  troops  were  now 
scattered,  some  attending  the  wounded,  some  guard 
ing  the  prisoners,  and  still  more  in  pursuit  of  plun 
der  ;    and   all  exhausted   by  extreme  hunger  and 


112  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

fatigue.  At  this  critical  moment,  Colonel  Warner's 
regiment  arrived,  and  the  other  troops  being  rallied, 
the  whole  were  ordered  to  advance.  A  field  piece 
had  been  taken  from  Baum  in  the  forenoon,  and 
Stark  ordered  it  to  be  drawn  to  the  scene  of  action, 
but  his  men  having  never  seen  a  cannon,  knew  not 
how  to  load  it,  the  general  dismounted  and  taught 
them  by  loading  it  himself.  An  action  soon  com 
menced,  and  proved  warm  and  desperate,  in  which 
both  sides  displayed  the  most  daring  bravery,  till 
night  approached,  when  the  enemy  yielded  a  second 
time  in  one  day,  to  their  Yankee  conquerors.  The 
German  troops  being  totally  routed,  availed  them 
selves  of  the  darkness  of  night  to  effect  their 
retreat.  The  whole  number  of  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners,  was  nine  hundred  and  thirty  four, 
including  one  hundred  and  fifty  seven  tories ;  of 
this  number,  six  hundred  and  fifty  four  are  prison 
ers.  Colonel  Baum  received  a  mortal  wound,  of 
which  he  soon  after  died.  Besides  the  above,  one 
thousand  stand  of  arms,  four  brass  field  pieces,  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dragoon  swords,  eight  loads  of 
baggage,  and  twenty  horses  fell  into  our  hands.  The 
loss  on  our  side,  is  not  more  than  one  hundred  in  the 
whole.  The  officers  and  men  engaged  in  this  splen 
did  enterprize  merit  all  the  praise  which  a  grateful 
country  can  bestow  ;  they  fought  disciplined  troops 
completely  accoutred,  while  they  wielded  their  ordi 
nary  firelocks  with  scarce  a  bayonet,  and  at  first  with 
out  cannon.  The  consequences  must  be  most  auspi 
cious  as  respects  our  affairs  in  the  northern  depart 
ment.  Burgoyne  must  feel  the  clipping  of  another 
wing,  and  it  must  diminish  his  confidence  in  his  suc 
cessful  career.  The  event  will  also  be  productive  of 
the  happiest  effects  on  the  spirits  of  our  militia,  by 
increasing  their  confidence  in  their  own  prowess. 
The  following  anecdote,  deserves  to  be  noticed  for 
the  honor  of  the  person  who  is  the  subject  of  it, 
though  his  name  hns  not  been  ascertained.  A  vene- 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  113 

rable  old  man  had  five  sons  in  the  field  of  battle  near 
Bennington,  and  being  told  that  he  had  been  unfor 
tunate  in  one  of  his  sons,  replied,  What,  has  he  mis 
behaved,  did  he  desert  his  post,  or  shrink  from  the 
charge  ?  No  sir,  says  the  informant,  worse  than  that, 
lie  is  among  the  slain,  he  fell  contending  mightily  in 
the  cause.  Then  I  am  satisfied,  replied  the  good 
old  man ;  bring  him  in,  and  lay  him  before  me,  that 
I  may  behold  and  survey  the  darling  of  my  soul. 
On  which  the  corpse  was  brought  in  and  laid  before 
him.  He  then  called  for  a  bowl  of  water  and  a  nap 
kin,  and  with  his  own  hands  washed  the  gore  and  dirt 
from  his  son's  corpse,  and  wiped  his  gaping  wounds, 
with  a  complacency,  as  he  himself  expressed  it,  which 
before  he  had  never  felt  or  experienced. 

Major  General  Horatio  Gates  has  superseded 
General  Schuyler  as  commander  in  chief  of  the 
northern  department,  and  has  passed  through  this 
city  on  his  way  to  Stillwater.  This  appointment 
will  be  very  satisfactory  to  our  army,  as  General 
Gates  has  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  New 
England  troops. 

September  2d. — General  Gates  has  issued  a  pro 
clamation  to  counteract  any  influence  which  Bur- 
goyne's  sanguinary  manifesto  might  have  produced, 
interdicting  all  communication  with  the  royal  army, 
and  endeavoring  to  calm  the  fears  of  the  inhabitants, 
by  promising  them  all  the  protection  in  his  power. 
Burgoyne's  manifesto,  however,  denouncing  fire  and 
sword,  instead  of  alarming  into  submission,  excites 
universal  indignation  and  contempt  ;  instead  of  con 
ciliating,  and  increasing  the  number  of  his  friends, 
serves  only  to  exasperate  and  augment  our  means 
of  resistance  and  opposition  to  his  views.  It  was 
not  long  indeed  before  some  innocent  persons  were 
made  victims  of  savage  barbarity,  by  means  of  the 
tomahawk  and  scalping  knife,  in  the  hands  of  the 
barbarians  under  his  command.  Among  the  first  of 
these  victims,  was  Miss  Jenny  McCrea,  who  was 
15 


114  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

murdered  in  a  manner  extremely  shocking  to  the 
feelings  of  humanity.  The  father  of  Miss  McCrea 
was  friendly  towards  the  royalists,  and  the  young 
lady  was  engaged  to  marry  a  refugee  officer  in  Bur- 
goyne's  army,  by  the  name  of  Jones,  and  waited  his 
arrival  in  order  to  have  the  marriage  consummated. 
When  our  army  retreated  from  Fort  Edward,  Miss 
McCrea  had  the  indiscretion  to  remain  behind,  pro 
bably  with  the  expectation  of  meeting  her  lover. 
The  Indians  however,  soon  made  her  their  prisoner, 
and  on  their  return  towards  Burgoyne's  camp,  a 
quarrel  arose  to  decide  who  should  hold  possession 
of  the  fair  prize.  During  the  controversy,  one  of 
the  monsters  struck  his  tomahawk  into  her  skull,  and 
immediately  stripped  off  her  scalp. 

General  Gates  complains  to  General  Burgoyne  of 
this  and  other  outrages  in  the  following  words.     "  A 
young  lady,  Miss  McCrea,  lovely  to  the  sight,  of 
virtuous  character  and  amiable  disposition,  engaged 
to  be  married  to  an  officer  in  your  army,  was,   with 
other  women  and  children,  taken  out  of  a  house  near 
Fort   Edward,   carried   into  the  woods,  and  there 
scalped   and  mangled   in  a  most  shocking  manner. 
Two  parents  with  their  six  children,  were  all  treated 
with  the  same  inhumanity,  while  quietly  residing  in 
their  own  happy  and  peaceful  dwellings.     The  mis 
erable  fate  of  Miss  McCrea  was  peculiarly  aggravat 
ed  by  her  being  dressed  to  receive  her  promised 
husband — but  met  her  murderer,  employed  by  you. 
Upwards  of  one  hundred  men,  women  and  children, 
have  perished  by  the  hands  of  ruffians,   to  whom  it 
is  asserted  you  have  paid  the  price  of  blood."     This 
appears  since  to  be  rather  an  exaggerated   charge. 
In  General  Burgoyne's  reply,  he  says,  "  The  fact 
was  no  premediated  barbarity,  on  the  contrary,  two 
chiefs  who  had  brought  Miss  McCrea  off,  for  the 
purpose  of  security,  not  of  violence  to  her  person, 
disputed  which  should  be  her  guard,  and  in  a  fit  of 
savage  passion,  in  the  one  from  whose  hands  she  was 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  115 

snatched,  the  unhappy  woman  became  the  victim.7' 
He  expressed  sorrow  and  regret  for  the  tragic 
scenes,  and  further  stated  that  he  obliged  the  In 
dians  to  give  up  the  murderer  into  his  hands,  and 
he  certainly  should  have  suffered  an  ignominious 
death,  had  he  not  been  convinced  that  a  pardon  on 
his  terms  would  be  more  efficacious  than  an  execu 
tion,  to  prevent  further  mischief.  That  he  paid  for 
scalps  he  denies ;  but  the  Indians  were  to  receive 
compensation  for  prisoners.  This  cruel  conduct  of 
the  royalists  is  contemplated  with  horror  and  detes 
tation  by  all  ranks  of  people,  except  their  friends 
and  adherents.  It  is  impossible  not  to  detest  that 
cause  and  that  army  which  accepts  the  aid  of  Savage 
auxiliaries,  and  encourages  them  in  inhuman  slaughter 
and  bloodshed.  This  measure  was  certainly  coun 
tenanced  and  recommended  by  his  Majesty,  and  his 
ministers,  and  General  Burgoyne  acknowledges  that 
he  allowed  the  Indians  to  take  the  scalps  of  the  dead. 
It  must  be  most  painful  for  the  impartial  historian  to 
record,  and  it  will  require  the  strongest  faith  of  the 
reader  in  future  ages  to  credit,  the  disgraceful  story, 
that  Britons  who  pride  themselves  on  their  civility, 
and  humanity,  employed  the  wild  Savages  of  the 
wilderness  in  a  war  against  a  people  united  to  them 
by  the  ties  of  consanguinity.  That  age,  and  the 
helpless  invalid,  women,  and  children  at  the  breast, 
are  all  alike  subjected  to  the  merciless  fury  of  bar 
barians.  That  British  generals  should  be  so  regard 
less  of  the  dignity  of  their  station,  and  the  voice 
of  humanity,  as  to  receive  from  the  hands  of  these 
ferocious  wretches  the  scalps  torn  from  the  skulls  of 
innocent  persons  ! 

13th. — There  is  a  constant  intercourse  kept  up 
between  this  city  and  our  army  near  Stillwater,  by 
which  we  are  regularly  apprised  of  daily  occurrences. 
It  is  now  ascertained  that  Burgoyne  has  crossed  the 
Hudson,  and  encamped  at  Saratoga,  about  thirty  six 
miles  above  Albany. 


116  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

17  th. — General  Gates,  reposing  full  confidence  in 
the  courage  and  strength  of  his  army,  seems  to  have 
determined  to  inarch  and  confront  his  formidable 
enemy,  and  endeavor  to  force  him  and  his  troops 
hack  to  Canada,  which,  in  his  orders,  issued  to  inspire 
his  troops  with  ardor,  he  says,  "  has  been  successfully 
begun  by  General  Stark  and  Colonel  Warner  at  the 
eastward ;  and  by  General  Herkimer  and  Colonel 
Gansevort  at  the  westward ;  and  cannot,  with  the 
blessing  of  Heaven,  fail  to  be  equally  prosperous  in 
the  hands  of  the  generals  and  soldiers  appointed  to 
face  the  enemy's  main  army  at  the  northward.  If 
the  murder  of  aged  parents,  with  their  innocent 
children ;  if  mangling  the  blooming  virgin,  and  in 
offensive  youth,  are  inducements  to  revenge — if  the 
righteous  cause  of  freedom,  and  the  happiness  of  pos 
terity,  are  motives  to  stimulate  to  conquer  their 
mercenary  and  merciless  foes,  the  time  is  now  come, 
when  they  are  called  on  by  their  country,  by  their 
general,  and  by  every  thing  divine  and  human,  to 
vanquish  the  foe." 

18th,  and  I9th. — Our  army  is  advancing  towards 
the  enemy  in  three  columns,  under  Generals  Lincoln 
and  Arnold,  General  Gates  in  the  centre.  A  terrible 
conflict  is  daily  expected,  both  parties  appear  to  be 
determined  to  commence  the  work  of  destruction. 

20th. — By  express  arrived  in  this  city  last  night, 
it  is  announced  that  the  two  armies  fought  in  the 
field,  yesterday,  a  very  sanguinary  battle,  the  particu 
lars  of  which  are  not  fully  understood ;  but  it  is  re 
ported  that  from  the  closeness  and  obstinacy  of  the 
combat,  the  carnage  on  both  sides  was  prodigious.  It 
is  with  inexpressible  satisfaction  that  we  learn  our 
troops  behaved  with  that  undaunted  bravery  which 
has  secured  to  them  the  victory,  and  were  it  not  for 
the  darkness  of  the  evening  when  the  battle  closed, 
it  would  have  been  more  complete. 

2lst,  and  22d. — A  considerable  number  of  officers 
and  soldiers  who  were  wounded  in  the  late  battle, 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,    1777.  117 

have  been  brought  here  to  be  accommodated  in  our 
hospital,  or  in  private  houses  in  this  city.  Several 
of  these  unfortunate  but  brave  men  have  received 
wounds  of  a  very  formidable  and  dangerous  nature, 
and  many  of  them  must  be  subjected  to  capital  ope 
rations. 

23d. — From  the  officers  who  were  engaged  in  the 
battle,  I  have  obtained  the  following  particulars. 
Our  army  under  the  command  of  General  Gates,  was 
stationed  in  the  vicinity  of  Stillwater,  when  they  ad 
vanced  towards  the  enemy  and  offered  them  battle. 
Colonel  Morgan's  regiment  of  riflemen,  and  Major 
Dearborn's  light  infantry,  being  in  front,  received 
the  first  fire  about  noon,  on  the  19th  instant.  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne  was  at  the  head  of  his  army,  and 
Generals  Phillips,  Reidesel  and  Frazer,  with  their 
respective  commands,  were  actively  engaged.  At 
about  three  o'clock,  both  armies  being  formed  in  a 
line  of  battle,  the  action  became  general,  and  the 
combatants  on  both  sides  evinced  that  ardor  and  gal 
lantry  which  shows  a  determination  to  conquer  or 
die.  The  firing  for  about  three  hours  was  incessant, 
with  continued  tremendous  roar  and  blaze,  filling  the 
field  with  carnage  and  death.  Few  battles  have  been 
more  obstinate  and  unyielding — at  one  point  the 
British  are  overpowered  ;  but  being  reinforced,  the 
Americans  are  baffled,  these,  being  supported  and 
renewing  their  efforts  regain  their  advantages;  the 
same  ground  is  occupied  alternately,  the  dead  and 
wounded  of  both  parties  are  mingled  together.  The 
British  resort  repeatedly  to  their  bayonets  without 
effect — the  Americans  resist  and  foil  their  attempts. 
Captain  Jones,  of  the  British  artillery,  had  the  com 
mand  of  four  pieces  of  cannon,  which  he  conducted 
with  great  skill  and  valor  till  he  fell,  and  thirty  six 
out  of  forty  eight  of  his  artillery  men  were  killed  or 
wounded ;  his  cannon  were  repeatedly  taken  and  re 
taken,  but  finally  remained  with  the  enemy  for  the 
want  of  horses  to  bring  them  off.  During  the  engage- 


118  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

ment,  a  number  of  our  soldiers  placed  themselves  in 
the  boughs  of  high  trees,  in  the  rear  and  flanks,  and 
took  every  opportunity  of  destroying  the  British  offi 
cers  by  single  shot ;  in  one  instance,  General  Bur- 
goyne  was  the  object,  but  the  aid  de  camp  of  General 
Phillips  received  the  ball  through  his  arm,  while 
delivering  a  message  to  Burgoyne ;  the  mistake,  it  is 
said,  was  occasioned  by  having  his  saddle  furnished 
with  rich  lace,  and  was  supposed  by  the  marksman, 
to  be  the  British  commander.  In  the  dusk  of  even 
ing  the  battle  terminated,  the  British  in  one  quarter 
silently  retreating,  the  Americans  in  another  give 
way,  and  quit  the  long  contested  field.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Brooks,  with  the  eighth  Massachusetts  regi 
ment,  remained  in  the  field  till  about  eleven  o'clock, 
and  was  the  last  who  retired.  Major  Hull  command 
ed  a  detachment  of  three  hundred  men,  who  fought 
with  such  signal  ardor,  that  more  than  half  of  them 
were  killed  or  wounded.  The  whole  number  of 
Americans  engaged  in  this  action,  was  about  two 
thousand  five  hundred ;  the  remainder  of  the  army, 
from  its  unfavorable  situation,  took  little  or  no  part 
in  the  action.  The  British  have  suffered  a  loss,  as  is 
supposed,  of  more  than  five  hundred  in  killed,  wound 
ed  and  prisoners.  On  the  side  of  the  Americans, 
sixty  four  were  killed,  two  hundred  and  seventeen 
wounded,  and  thirty  eight  missing.  Among  the  kill 
ed,  are  Colonels  Adams  and  Colburn,  two  valuable 
officers  much  regretted.  The  victory  on  this  im 
portant  occasion  is  claimed  by  the  enemy,  but  the 
advantages  are  most  decidedly  on  the  side  of  the 
Americans ;  they  were  the  assailants — they  held  their 
ground  during  the  day,  and  at  the  close  retired  to 
their  encampment  without  being  pursued.  The  royal 
army  lay  all  the  ensuing  night  on  their  arms  at  some 
distance  from  the  field  of  battle. 

24th. — General  Lincoln  having  the  command  of  a 
body  of  New  England  militia,  detached  Col.  Brown 
with  five  hundred  men  to  the  landing  at  lake  George, 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  119 

about  three  miles  from  Ticonderoga,  and  more  than 
forty  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  British  army.  Two 
other  detachments  were  also  sent  towards  Mount 
Independence,  Fort  Ann  and  Fort  Edward.  These 
expeditions  being  faithfully  executed,  were  attended 
with  complete  success.  Colonel  Brown  had  the  ad 
dress  to  surprise  all  the  out  posts  in  the  vicinity  of 
Ticonderoga,  and  took  immediate  possession  of  Mount 
Defiance,  Mount  Hope,  and  a  block  house,  with  two 
hundred  batteaux,  an  armed  sloop,  and  several  gun 
boats,  about  three  hundred  prisoners,  with  their  small 
arms,  and  released  one  hundred  American  prisoners 
from  their  confinement. 

October  1st. — The  situation  of  the  royal  army  un 
der  Burgoyne,  is  now  considered  extremely  preca 
rious  ;  his  march  to  Albany  is  deemed  absolutely  im 
practicable,  and  a  retreat  to  Canada  must  be  attend 
ed  with  insurmountable  difficulties  and  dangers.  It 
is  well  understood,  that  he  calculates  on  the  co-opera 
tion  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  by  sending  from  New 
York,  a  force  up  the  North  river  to  endeavor  to 
effect  a  passage  to  Albany,  or  at  least,  to  occasion 
such  alarm,  as  to  draw  off  a  part  of  General  Gates' 
army  from  before  him.  Messengers  or  persons  in 
the  character  of  spies,  are  frequently  suspected  of 
passing  from  one  British  commander  to  the  other. 
A  man,  by  name  Nathan  Palmer,  was,  a  few  days 
since,  seized  in  General  Putnam's  camp,  at  Peeks- 
kill,  under  suspicious  circumstances,  and  on  trial  was 
found  to  be  a  lieutenant  in  the  tory  new  levies,  and  he 
was  executed  as  a  spy. 

4th. — By  intelligence  from  camp,  it  appears,  that 
Burgoyne  has  thrown  up  a  line  of  entrenchments  in 
front  of  his  camp,  and  is  making  every  possible  effort 
to  strengthen  his  position  and  prepare  for  another 
conflict.  The  Canadians  and  his  Savage  allies  being 
greatly  dissatisfied  and  discouraged,  have  deserted 

*  For  General  Putnam's  letter  to  Governor  Tryon,  respecting  Palmer, 
see  life  of  Putnam  in  the  Appendix. 


120  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

his  standard  since  the  last  battle.  The  advantages 
obtained  over  the  enemy  on  this  occasion,  excites 
the  greatest  exultation  and  rejoicing  throughout  our 
army  and  country.  It  is  indeed  a  remarkable  fact, 
which  must  animate  the  heart  of  every  friend  to  the 
cause  of  America,  that  our  troops,  so  little  accustomed 
to  encounter  the  prowess  of  European  veterans,  and 
the  peculiar  warfare  of  the  Savages,  should  face  these 
enemies  with  such  undaunted  courage  and  intre 
pidity.  Sanguine  hopes  are  now  entertained,  that  we 
shall,  by  the  help  of  Providence,  be  finally  enabled 
to  destroy  or  capture  the  whole  British  army.  Our 
troops  are  panting  for  another  opportunity  of  dis 
playing  their  valor,  and  another  dreadful  conflict  is 
daily  expected ;  alternate  hopes  and  fears  continually 
agitate  our  minds  and  create  the  greatest  anxiety  and 
solicitude.  What  can  excite  ideas  more  noble  and 
sublime,  than  impending  military  events,  on  which 
depend  the  destiny  of  a  nation  ? 

6th. — An  express  passed  through  this  city,  on  his 
way  to  General  Gates'  head  quarters,  with  the  infor 
mation,  that  a  detachment  of  troops  from  New  York, 
supposed  to  be  about  four  thousand,  under  com 
mand  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  General  Vaughan, 
have  undertaken  an  expedition  up  the  North  river. 
Their  object  undoubtedly  is,  to  possess  themselves  of 
Fort  Montgomery,  and  Fort  Clinton,  in  the  high 
lands,  and  to  make  a  diversion  in  favor  of  Burgoyne. 
General  Putnam  was  stationed  at  Peekskill  with  a 
small  force,  but  being  totally  unable  to  cope  with  the 
enemy,  has  retired  to  some  distance.  Should  this 
expedition  be  crowned  with  success,  it  will  be  in  the 
power  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  to  convey  his  army 
to  this  city,  and  even  to  our  camp  at  Still  water, 
which  will  place  our  army  between  two  fires.  Should 
General  Gates  detach  a  part  of  his  troops  to  oppose  the 
march  of  General  Clinton,  it  will  liberate  Burgoyne, 
and  he  would  probably  force  his  way  to  this  city. 
In  either  event,  the  consequences  must  be  exceed- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  121 

iugly  disastrous  to  our  country.     We  tremble  with 
apprehensions. 

8th. — The  anticipated  important  intelligence  has 
just  reached  us,  that  a  most  severe  engagement  took 
place  yesterday,  between  the  two  armies,  at  a  place 
between  Stillwater  and  Saratoga,  called  Bemis' 
Heights.  It  is  supposed  to  be  the  hardest  fought 
battle,  and  the  most  honorable  to  our  army,  of  any 
since  the  commencement  of  hostilities.  The  enemy 
was  completely  repulsed  in  every  quarter,  and  his 
defeat  was  attended  with  irreparable  loss  of  officers, 
men,  artillery,  tents  and  baggage.  Our  officers  and  men 
acquired  the  highest  honor,  they  fought  like  heroes 
and  their  loss  is  very  inconsiderable.  General  Arnold 
has  received  a  wound  in  his  leg.  I  am  impatient  to 
receive  the  particular  details  of  this  capital  event. 

9th  and  10th. — I  am  fortunate  enough  to  obtain 
from  our  officers,  a  particular  account  of  the  glorious 
event  of  the  7th  instant.  The  advanced  parties  of 
the  two  armies  came  into  contact,  about  three  o'clock 
on  Tuesday  afternoon,  and  immediately  displayed 
their  hostile  attitude.  The  Americans  soon  approach 
ed  the  royal  army,  and  each  party  in  defiance  awaited 
the  deadly  blow.  The  gallant  ColoneJ  Morgan,  at 
the  head  of  his  famous  rifle  corps,  and  Major  Dear 
born,  leading  a  detachment  of  infantry,  commenced 
the  action,  and  rushed  courageously  on  the  British 
grenadiers,  commanded  by  Major  Ackland ;  and  the 
furious  attack  was  most  firmly  resisted.  In  all  parts 
of  the  field,  the  conflict  became  extremely  arduous 
and  obstinate  ;  an  unconquerable  spirit  on  each  side 
disdaining  to  yield  the  palm  of  victory.  Death  ap 
peared  to  have  lost  his  terrors ;  breaches  in  the  ranks 
were  no  sooner  made  than  supplied  by  fresh  com 
batants  awaiting  a  similar  fate.  At  length  the  Ame 
ricans  press  forward  with  renewed  strength  and 
ardor,  and  compel  the  whole  British  line,  command 
ed  by  Burgoyne  himself,  to  yield  to  their  deadly 
fire,  and  they  retreat  in  disorder.  The  German  troops 
16 


122  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

remain  firmly  posted  at  their  lines ;  these  were  now 
boldly  assaulted  by  Brigadier  General  Learned,  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Brooks,  at  the  head  of  their  re 
spective  commands,  with  such  intrepidity,  that  the 
works  were  carried,  and  their  brave  commander,  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Breyman  was  slain.  The  Germans 
were  pursued  to  their  encampment,  which,  with  all 
the  equipage  of  the  brigade,  fell  into  our  hands. 
Colonel  Cilley,  of  General  Poor's  brigade,  having  ac 
quitted  himself  honorably,  was  seen  astride  on  a  brass 
field  piece,  exulting  in  the  capture.  Major  Hull, 
of  the  Massachusetts  line,  was  among  those  who  so 
bravely  stormed  the  enemy's  entrenchment  and  acted 
a  conspicuous  part.  General  Arnold,  in  consequence 
of  a  serious  misunderstanding  with  General  Gates, 
was  not  vested  with  any  command,  by  which  he  was 
exceedingly  chagrined  and  irritated.  He  entered 
the  field  however,  and  his  conduct  was  marked  with 
intemperate  rashness ;  flourishing  his  sword  and  ani 
mating  the  troops,  he  struck  an  officer  on  the  head 
without  cause,  and  gave  him  a  considerable  wound. 
He  exposed  himself  to  every  danger,  and  with  a  small 
party  of  riflemen,  rushed  into  the  rear  of  the  enemy, 
where  he  received  a  ball  which  fractured  his  leg,  and 
his  horse  was  killed  under  him.  Nightfall  put  a  stop 
to  our  brilliant  career,  though  the  victory  was  most 
decisive,  and  it  is  with  pride  and  exultation  that  we 
recount  the  triumph  of  American  bravery.  Besides 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Breyman  slain,  General  Frazer, 
one  of  the  most  valuable  officers  in  the  British  ser 
vice,  was  mortally  wounded  and  survived  but  a  few 
hours.*  Sir  Francis  Clark,  aid  de  camp  to  General 

*  The  death  of  General  Frazer,  from  Professor  Sil1i0iarrs  Travels. 
u  In  the  action  of  7th  October,  1777,  Frazer  was  the  soul  of  the  British 
array,  and  was  just  changing  the  disposition  of  a  part  of  the  troops  to 
repel  a  strong  impression  which  the  Americans  had  made,  arid  were 
still  making,  on  the  British  right,  when  Morgan  called  together  two  or 
three  of  his  best  marksmen,  and  pointing  to  Frazer,  said,  "  Do  you  see 
that  gallant  officer,  that  is  General  Frazer, — 1  respect  and  honor  him  ; 
but  it  is  necessary  he  should  die."  This  was  enough.  Frazer  imme 
diately  received  his  mortal  wound  and  was  carried  off  the  field."1  See 
the  Appendix. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  123 

Burgoyne,  was  brought  into  our  camp  with  a  mortal 
wound,  and  Major  Ackland,  who  commanded  the 
British  grenadiers,  was  wounded  through  both  legs, 
and  is  our  prisoner.  Several  other  officers  and  about 
two  hundred  privates  are  prisoners  in  our  hands, 
with  nine  pieces  of  cannon  and  a  considerable  supply 
of  ammunition,  which  was  much  wanted  for  our  troops. 
The  loss  on  our  side  is  supposed  not  to  exceed  thirty 
killed,  and  one  hundred  wounded,  in  obtaining  this 
signal  victory. 

llth. — The  night  after  the  battle,  Burgoyne  silent 
ly  moved  from  his  position,  and  on  the  8th,  there 
was  considerable  skirmishing  through  the  day,  with 
some  loss  on  both  sides.  We  have  to  lament  the 
misfortune  of  Major  General  Lincoln,  who,  while  re 
connoitring  the  enemy,  advanced  so  near,  that  a  whole 
volley  of  musketry  was  discharged  at  him,  and  he 
received  a  dangerous  wound  in  his  leg.  It  is  report 
ed,  that  the  day  after  the  battle,  upwards  of  one  hun 
dred  of  the  enemy's  dead  were  found  unburied  in 
the  field.  General  Gates  having  detached  a  body 
of  troops  to  get  into  the  rear  of  the  British  army, 
Burgoyne  took  the  alarm,  and  resolved  to  retreat 
immediately  to  Saratoga ;  accordingly  in  the  night 
of  the  9th  instant,  he  silently  moved  off,  leaving  in 
our  possession  his  hospital,  containing  three  hundred 
sick  and  wounded,  with  medicinal  stores,  and  two  hun 
dred  barrels  of  flour,  &c.  It  is  a  fact,  both  unaccounta 
ble  and  disgraceful,  that  on  their  retreat  they  com 
mitted  the  most  wanton  devastations,  burning  and 
destroying  almost  every  house  within  their  reach  ; 
the  elegant  and  valuable  country  seat  of  General 
Schuyler,  near  Saratoga,  did  not  escape  their  fury. 
The  situation  of  the  royal  army  is  now  extremely 
deplorable,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  possibility  of  their 
final  escape.  General  Gates  has  so  arranged  his 
forces  as  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  and  is  endeavoring  to 
surround  them  on  every  quarter.  May  the  Almighty 
Ruler  grant  that  our  efforts  may  be  crowned  with 
still  more  glorious  success. 


124  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

I2tk. — The  wounded  officers  and  soldiers  of  our 
army,  and  those  of  the  enemy  who  have  fallen  into 
our  hands,  are  crowding  into  our  hospital,  and  re 
quire  our  constant  attention.  The  last  night  I 
watched  with  the  celebrated  General  Arnold,  whose 
leg  was  badly  fractured  by  a  musket  ball  while  in 
the  engagement  with  the  enemy  on  the  7th  instant. 
He  is  very  peevish,  arid  impatient  under  his  mis 
fortunes,  and  required  all  my  attention  during  the 
night,  but  I  devoted  an  hour  in  writing  a  letter  to 
a  friend  in  Boston  detailing  the  particulars  of  the 
late  battle. 

In  the  severe  battle  of  the  7th,  General  Burgoyne 
himself,  it  is  now  ascertained,  had  a  hair  breadth 
escape,  having  one  bullet  pass  through  his  hat  and 
another  tore  his  waistcoat.* 

We  have  the  most  flattering  accounts  from  camp. 
Our  army  is  -now  posted  within  musket  shot  of  the 
enemy  at  Saratoga,  and  are  forming  a  circle  round 
them.  Some  skirmishing  takes  place  every  day,  in 

*  The  following  anecdote  shows  the  imminent  danger  to  which  a  part 
of  General  Gates1  army  was  at  one  time  exposed.  General  Gates 
had  received  what  he  supposed  to  be  certain  intelligence  that  the 
main  body  of  Bnrgoyne's  army  had  marched  off  for  Fort  Edward,  and 
that  a  rear  guard  only  was  left  in  the  camp,  who  after  a  while  were 
to  push  off  as  fast  as  possible,  leaving  the  heavy  baggage  behind.  On 
this  it  was  concluded  to  advance  and  attack  the  camp  in  half  an  hour. 
General  Nixon's  being  the  eldest  brigade,  crossed  the  Saratoga  Creek 
first:  unknown  to  the  Americans,  Burgoyne  had  a  line  formed  behind 
a  parcel  of  brushwood  to  support  the  post  of  artillery  where  the  attack 
was  to  be  made.  General  Glover  with  his  brigade,  was  on  the  point 
of  following  Nixon.  Just  as  he  entered  the  water,  he  saw  a  British 
•oldier  crossing,  whom  he  called  and  examined.  This  soldier  was  a 
deserter,  and  communicated  the  yery  important  fact,  that  the  whole 
British  army  were  in  their  encampment.  Nixon  was  immediately 
stopped,  and  the  intelligence  conveyed  to  Gates,  who  countermanded 
his  orders  for  the  assault,  and  called  back  his  troops,  not  without 
sustaining  some  loss  from  the  British  artillery. — Gordon  and  Marshal. 

N.  B.  General  Wilkinson  who  acted  as  General  Gates'  Adjutant  Gen 
eral,  asserts  in  his  memoirs,  that  he  first  discovered  the  British  at  their 
post,  through  a  thick  fog  while  his  horse  halted  to  drink  in  fording  the 
creek,  and  that  he  instantly  arrested  the  march  of  our.  troops,  and 
thereby  saved  them  from  destruction.  He  makes  no  mention  of  the 
deserter.  It  is  known  that  Burgoyne  has  frequently  expressed  his 
extreme  disappointment,  that  he  was  baffled  in  this  stratagem  ;  and 
Americans  ought  never  tc  forget  the  remarkable  Providential  escape. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

which  we  have  taken  one  hundred  and  twenty  priso 
ners,  and  have  received  one  hundred  and  sixty  de 
serters.  A  party  of  our  men  have  taken  fifty  bat- 
teaux  loaded  with  provisions,  stores,  and  medicines, 
among  which  are  one  thousand  barrels  of  pork  and 
beef.  This  must  be  to  the  enemy  an  irreparable 
loss,  and  a  blow  which  must  hasten  the  destruction 
or  surrender  of  their  whole  army. 

14th. — We  have  now  a  confirmation  of  the  intelli 
gence  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  General  Vaughan 
have  pushed  up  the  North  river,  and  made  a  suc 
cessful  attack  on  our  forts  at  the  highlands.  Fort 
Montgomery,  and  Fort  Clinton,  are  near  to  each 
other,  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Hudson.  They 
have  been  considered  of  great  importance  as  defen 
sive  posts,  against  the  passage  of  the  enemy  up  the 
river.  In  addition  to  these  forts,  a  strong  boom, 
and  an  iron  chain  of  immense  size,  were  stretched 
across  the  river,  and  a  frigate  and  two  gallies  were 
stationed  above  them.  By  these  means  it  was  al 
ways  supposed  that  the  position  was  invulnerable, 
provided  a  proper  number  of  troops  were  posted  in 
the  forts ;  but  it  unfortunately  happened  that  most 
of  the  continental  troops  were  necessarily  called  off 
to  join  General  Gates'  army.  The  forts  were  de 
fended  by  Governor  George  Clinton,  and  his  brother 
General  James  Clinton,  of  New  York,  having  about 
six  hundred  militia  men,  a  force  greatly  inadequate 
to  the  defence  of  the  works.  The  enemy  came  up 
the  river,  landed,  and  appeared  unexpectedly,  and 
demanded  a  surrender  of  the  forts,  which  being  re 
solutely  refused,  were  taken  by  assault,  though  not 
without  a  firm  and  brave  resistance.  General  James 
Clinton  received  a  bayonet  wound  in  his  thigh,  but 
he  and  the  Governor  with  a  part  of  the  garrison 
made  their  escape,  leaving  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  men  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  ene 
my  suffered  a  severe  loss  of  three  field  officers  killed, 
and  their  dead  and  wounded  is  estimated  at  about 


120  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  17^7. 

three  hundred.  General  Putnam,  who  commanded 
at  Peekskill  in  the  vicinity,  having  a  small  force  only 
to  guard  the  deposit  of  stores,  was  obliged  to  retire, 
and  the  barracks,  stores  and  provisions,  to  a  very 
considerable  amount,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy 
and  were  destroyed.  With  wanton  cruelty  they  set 
fire  to  the  houses  and  buildings  of  every  description, 
and  spread  ruin  and  devastation  to  the  extent  of  their 
power.  To  consummate  their  destructive  scheme, 
General  Vaughan  destroyed  by  conflagration,  the  beau 
tiful  town  of  Esopus,  with  the  church,  and  every 
other  building  it  contained.  Thus  we  experience 
the  horrid  effects  of  malice  and  revenge ;  where  they 
cannot  conquer,  they  wantonly  exterminate  and  de 
stroy.  They  are  well  apprised  of  the  disastrous  and 
desperate  situation  of  their  boastful  General  Bur- 
goyne,  and  if  they  dare  not  march  to  his  relief,  they 
can  cowardly  retaliate  by  conflagration  with  im 
punity.  It  is  the  prevalent  opinion  here,  that  by 
taking  advantage  of  wind  and  tide,  it  is  in  the  power 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton  to  convey  his  forces  to  this  city 
within  the  space  of  five  or  six  hours,  and  having 
arrived  here,  a  march  of  about  twenty  miles  will 
carry  him  without  opposition  to  Stillwater,  which 
must  involve  General  Gates  in  inexpressible  embar 
rassment  and  difficulty,  by  placing  him  between  two 
armies,  and  thereby  extricating  Burgoyne  from  his 
perilous  situation.  We  have  been  tremblingly  alive 
to  this  menacing  prospect,  but  our  fears  are  in  a 
measure  allayed  by  the  following  singular  incident. 
After  the  capture  of  Fort  Montgomery,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  despatched  a  messenger  by  the  name  of  Daniel 
Taylor,  to  Burgoyne  with  the  intelligence ;  fortunately 
he  was  taken  on  his  way  as  a  spy,  and  finding  him 
self  in  danger,  he  wras  seen  to  turn  aside  and  take 
something  from  his  pocket  and  swallow  it.  General 
George  Clinton,  into  whose  hands  he  had  fallen,  or 
dered  a  severe  dose  of  emetic  tartar  to  be  admin 
istered  :  this  produced  the  happiest  effect  as  respects 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  127 

the  prescribe? ;  but  it  proved  fatal  to  the  patient. 
He  discharged  a  small  silver  bullet,  which  being 
unscrewed,  was  found  to  enclose  a  letter  from  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  to  Burgoyne.  "  Out  of  thine  own 
mouth  thou  shalt  be  condemned."  The  spy  was 
tried,  convicted  and  executed.  The  following  is  an 
exact  copy  of  the  letter  enclosed. 

Fort  Montgomery,  October  Sth,  1777. 
Nous  voici — and  nothing  between  us  but  Gates. 
I  sincerely  hope  this  little  success  of  ours  may  facili 
tate  your  operations.  In  answer  to  your  letter  of 
the  28th  of  September  by  C.  C.  I  shall  only  say,  I 
cannot  presume  to  order,  or  even  advise,  for  reasons 
obvious.  I  heartily  wish  you  success. 

Faithfully  yours, 

H.  CLINTON. 
To  General  Burgoyne. 

14th. — An  express  from  camp.  Burgoyne  has 
this  day  made  proposals  to  General  Gates  to  enter 
into  a  treaty  for  the  surrender  of  his  army.  He 
desires  a  cessation  of  arms  till  the  preliminary  terms 
can  be  settled,  to  which  General  Gates  has  assented. 
The  glorious  event  is  about  to  be  consummated. 

15th,  arid  16th. — Burgoyne's  message  to  General 
Gates  by  the  hands  of  Major  Kingston  is  as  follows. 

October  14th,  1777. 

"  After  having  fought  you  twice,  Lieutenant  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne  has  waited  some  days,  in  his  present 
position,  determined  to  try  a  third  conflict  against 
any  force  you  could  bring  to  attack  him. 

"  He  is  apprised  of  the  superiority  of  your  num 
bers,  and  the  disposition  of  your  troops  to  impede 
his  supplies  and  render  his  retreat  a  scene  of  carnage 
on  both  sides.  In  this  situation  he  is  impelled  by 
humanity,  and  thinks  himself  justified  by  established 
principles  and  precedents  of  state  and  of  war,  to 


128  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

spare  the  lives  of  brave  men  on  honorable  terms : 
should  Major  General  Gates  be  inclined  to  treat  on 
this  idea,  General  Burgoyne  would  propose  a  cessa 
tion  of  arms  during  the  time  necessary  to  communi 
cate  the  preliminary  terms,  by  which  in  any  ex 
tremity,  he,  and  his  army,  mean  to  abide." 

A  convention  was  in  consequence  opened,  and  two 
days  were  spent  in  a  discussion  and  interchange  of 
articles  between  the  two  commanders.  It  was  agreed 
that  the  articles  should  be  mutually  signed  and  ex 
changed  to-morrow  morning  the  17th  instant,  at  9 
o'clock ;  and  the  troops  under  Lieutenant  General 
Burgoyne  are  to  march  out  of  their  intrench  ments 
at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

The  substance  of  the  treaty  is,  that  the  troops 
under  the  command  of  General  Burgoyne  shall  march 
out  of  their  camp  with  the  honors  of  war,  and  their 
field  artillery,  to  the  place  assigned,  where  their  arms 
and  artillery  shall  be  piled  at  the  command  of  their 
own  officers. 

That  the  troops  be  allowed  to  return  to  England, 
on  condition  that  they  shall  not  serve  again  in  Ame 
rica  during  the  present  war.  That  the  officers  be 
allowed  to  wear  their  side  arms  and  be  treated  ac 
cording  to  their  rank.  That  the  European  troops 
march  immediately  for  Boston,  to  be  in  readiness  to 
embark  when  transports  shall  be  sent  for  them,  and 
that  the  Canadians  be  permitted  to  return  home 
immediately,  on  the  sole  condition  of  their  not  arming 
again  against  the  United  States. 

ISth. — At  the  appointed  hour  yesterday  morning 
the  Americans  marched  into  the  lines  of  the  British 
to  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle,  where  they  continued 
till  the  royal  army  had  marched  to  the  place  ap 
pointed  and  deposited  their  arms  according  to  the 
treaty. 

It  is  a  circumstance  characteristic  of  the  amiable 
and  benevolent  disposition  of  General  Gates,  that, 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  129 

unwilling  to  aggravate  the  painful  feelings  of  the 
royal  troops,  he  would  not  permit  the  American 
soldiery  to  witness  the  degrading  act  of  piling  their 
arms.  This  instance  of  delicacy  and  politeness,  at 
the  moment  of  triumph,  towards  an  enemy  who  had 
committed  the  most  unprecedented  outrages,  is  a 
mark  of  true  magnanimity,  and  deserves  the  highest 
praise,  though  it  deprives  our  army  of  the  satisfac 
tion  to  which  they  are  justly  entitled.* 

The  preliminaries  having  been  acceded  to  by  the 
two  commanders,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Wilkinson, 
Deputy  Adjutant  General,  and  Brigadier  General 
Whipple,  of  the  militia,  on  our  part,  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Sutherland,  Major  Kingston,  and  Captain 
Craig,  on  the  part  of  the  British,  were  appointed  to 
stipulate  and  arrange  the  particular  articles  of  capitu 
lation.  So  very  tenacious  were  the  British  of  the 
trivial  points  of  military  honor,  that,  after  they  had 
signed  the  "  treaty  of  capitulation"  as  it  was  term 
ed,  they  required  that  the  tgrm  should  be  altered  to 
"  treaty  of  convention"  in  which  they  were  indulg 
ed  by  General  Gates,  as  being  of  little  consequence 
on  our  part.  During  the  pending  negotiation,  several 
hundred  of  the  New  York  militia,  whose  term  of 
service  had  expired,  marched  off  the  ground  with 
out  permission  from  General  Gates ;  and  the  same 
night  Burgoyne  received  intelligence  by  a  spy, 
that  Sir  H.  Clinton,  having  taken  Fort  Montgom 
ery,  would  attempt  to  force  his  way  to  Albany. 
Though  the  articles  of  convention  were  fully  adjust 
ed,  signed  and  exchanged,  by  those  appointed  for 
the  purpose,  and  the  hour  stipulated  by  the  parties 
for  Burgoyne  to  affix  his  signature,  he  addressed  a 
note  to  General  Gates  purporting  that  he  should  re 
cede  from  the  treaty,  on  the  ground  that  a  part  of 
the  American  force  had  been  detached  from  the 
army  during  the  negotiation ;  and  with  a  bold  effron- 

*  For  the  first  interview  between  the  royal  general  officers  and  their 
conqueror,  see  Life  of  General  Gate?,  in  the  Appendix. 
17 


130  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

tery,  required,  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  send 
two  officers  to  our  camp  to  ascertain  the  fact.  This 
dishonorable  conduct,  as  may  be  supposed,  raised  the 
ire  of  our  spirited  commander,  who  sent  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Wilkinson  to  have  a  personal  interview  with 
Burgoyne,  and  to  insist  that  hostilities  should  recom 
mence,  if  the  treaty  was  not  immediately  ratified. 
This,  after  much  hesitation  on  the  part  of  Burgoyne 
and  his  officers,  produced  the  desired  effect.  His 
contemplated  alternative  was,  to  abandon  his  camp, 
artillery,  heavy  baggage  and  sick,  and  by  a  desperate 
effort  in  the  night,  to  force  his  way  through  our 
iirmy,  and  make  a  rapid  march  to  Albany  with  the 
hope  of  meeting  General  Sir  H.  Clinton.  It  is  con 
sidered  singular  that  it  was  not  demanded  of  the 
captured  general  to  deliver  up  his  military  chest, 
colors,  and  soldiers'  accoutrements ;  but  the  success  of 
General  Clinton  in  reducing  Fort  Montgomery,  and 
the  serious  apprehensions  of  General  Gates  that  he 
would  force  his  way  to  Albany,  and  the  desire  of  the 
latter  to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  are  the  substan 
tial  causes  which  procured  for  Burgoyne  the  favora 
ble  terms  which  he  enjoys.  It  is  satisfactory  to  learn 
that  the  British  officers,  in  general,  candidly  acknow 
ledged,  that  the  American  troops  conducted  on  all 
occasions  with  the  greatest  bravery,  and  when,  after 
their  surrender,  they  visited  and  took  a  view  of  our 
camp,  expressed  much  surprize  at  the  military  order 
and  economy  which  were  conspicuous  in  every  part, 
and  said  that  they  never  had  seen,  even  in  Germany, 
an  encampment  more  systematically  and  properly 
disposed.  The  trophies  which  we  have  achieved 
by  this  great  event,  are,  officers  am*  soldiers,  five 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety  one.  It  has  been 
estimated  that  Burgoyne's  army,  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  campaign,  was  full  ten  thousand  strong : 
the  deficiency  now,  must  be  accounted  for  by  the  kill 
ed,  loss  by  sickness,  prisoners  and  deserters.  Among 
the  officers  taken,  are  six  members  of  the  British  Par- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  131 

liament.  The  train  of  brass  artillery  and  other  ord 
nance,  are  immensely  valuable,  consisting  of  forty  two 
pieces  of  brass  ordnance,  besides  seven  thousand  mus 
kets,  with  six  thousand  dozen  cartridges  and  an  ample 
supply  of  shot,  shells,  &c.  To  these  are  added,  clothing 
for  seven  thousand  men,  a  large  number  of  tents  and 
other  military  stores.  Thus  we  witness  the  incalcu 
lable  reverse  of  fortune,  and  the  extraordinary  vicis 
situdes  of  military  events,  as  ordained  by  Divine 
Providence.  The  same  haughty  commander,  who 
but  a  few  weeks  since,  flushed  with  victory,  was  ha 
rassing  our  retreating  army  in  every  direction  ;  that 
proud,  assuming  foe,  who  so  often  threatened  to  lay 
waste  our  cities  and  country,  and  who  said  in  his 
orders,  early  in  the  campaign,  "  this  army  must  not 
retreat,"  is  now  reduced  to  the  mortifying  alternative 
of  suing  for  terms  of  surrender,  to  those  powers 
whom  he  affected  to  treat  with  sovereign  contempt. 
It  must  be  doubly  mortifying  to  contrast  his  present 
humble  condition  with  that,  when  he  published  his 
pompous  and  bombastic  proclamation,  calling  on 
towns  and  people  to  send  delegates  to  supplicate  his 
favor  and  clemency,  and  threatening  vengeance 
against  all  those  who  should  dare  to  disobey  his  com 
mands,  or  oppose  his  authority.  There  are  perhaps 
few  examples  in  the  annals  of  warfare,  of  a  whole 
army  under  a  celebrated  general,  and  officers  of  the 
first  character  ;  gentlemen  of  noble  families,  and  mili 
tary  merit,  being  reduced  to  the  mortifying  condition 
of  captives,  led  through  a  country  which  it  was  de 
signed  should  have  been  devoted  to  their  all  con 
quering  power.  The  intelligence  of  these  events 
to  the  British  government,  must  affect  them  like  the 
shock  of  a  thunderbolt,  and  demonstrate  to  them  the 
invincibility  of  a  people  united  in  the  noble  cause 
of  liberty  and  the  rights  of  man.  This  event  will 
make  one  of  the  most  brilliant  pages  of  American 
history.  General  Gates  has  crowned  himself  with 
unfading  laurels,  and  immortal  honor;  he  has  van- 


132  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777. 

quished  a  commander  of  established  military  fame, 
at  the  head  of  a  veteran  army.  He  has  displayed 
the  qualities  of  a  general,  the  magnanimity  of  a  phi 
lanthropist,  and  the  amiable  and  polite  civilities  of  a 
gentleman.  No  less  dignified  and  brave  as  a  com 
mander,  than  beneficent  and  generous  as  a  conqueror. 
He  is  remarkable  for  his  humanity  to  prisoners  and 
a  desire  to  mitigate  the  sufferings  of  the  unfortunate. 
Among  the  objects  in  distress,  which  claimed  his 
attention,  was  the  lady  of  Major  Ackland,  com 
mander  of  the  British  grenadiers,  who  was  danger 
ously  wounded  and  captured  during  the  battle  of  the 
7th  of  October.  This  heroic  lady,  from  conjugal 
affection,  was  induced  to  follow  the  fortune  of  her 
husband  during  the  whole  campaign  through  the 
wilderness.  Having  been  habituated  to  a  mode  of 
life  with  which  those  of  rank  and  fortune  are  peculiarly 
favored,  her  delicate  frame  is  ill  calculated  to  sus 
tain  the  indescribable  privations  and  hardships,  to 
which  she  was  unavoidably  exposed  during  an  active 
campaign.  Her  vehicle  of  conveyance  was,  part  of 
the  time,  a  small  two  wheeled  tumbril,  drawn  by  a 
single  horse,  over  roads  almost  impassable.  Soon 
after  she  received  the  affecting  intelligence,  that  her 
husband  had  received  a  wound,  and  was  a  prisoner, 
she  manifested  the  greatest  tenderness  and  affection, 
and  resolved  to  visit  him  in  our  camp  to  console  and 
alleviate  his  sufferings.  With  this  view  she  obtained 
a  letter  from  Burgoyne,  to  General  Gates,  and  not 
permitting  the  prospect  of  being  out  in  the  night, 
and  drenched  in  rain,  to  repress  her  zeal,  she  pro 
ceeded  in  an  open  boat,  with  a  few  attendants,  and 
arrived  at  our  out  post  in  the  night,  in  a  suffering 
condition,  from  extreme  wet  and  cold.  The  sentinel, 
faithful  to  his  duty,  detained  them  in  the  boat  till 
Major  Dearborn,  the  officer  of  the  guard,  could  arrive. 
He  permitted  them  to  land,  and  afforded  lady  Ack 
land  the  best  accommodations  in  his  power,  and 
treated  her  with  a  cup  of  tea  in  his  guard  house.. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  133 

When  General  Gates,  in  the  morning,  was  informed 
of  the  unhappy  situation  of  lady  Ackland,  he  im 
mediately  ordered  her  a  safe  escort,  and  treated  her 
himself  with  the  tenderness  of  a  parent,  directing 
that  every  attention  should  be  bestowed  which  her 
rank,  her  sex,  character  and  circumstances  required. 
She  was  soon  conveyed  to  Albany,  where  she  found 
her  wounded  husband.  For  further  particulars  re 
specting  this  highly  respectable  and  interesting  lady, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  Appendix. 

In  the  military  transactions  in  the  northern  de 
partment,  the  labors  and  efforts  of  Major  General 
Schuyler  are  acknowledged  to  be  eminently  impor 
tant  and  useful.  He  is  undoubtedly  entitled  to  the 
character  of  an  intelligent  and  meritorious  officer. 
As  a  private  gentleman  he  is  dignified,  but  courteous, 
his  manners  are  urbane,  and  his  hospitality  is  un 
bounded.  He  is  justly  considered  as  one  of  our 
most  distinguished  champions  of  liberty,  and  his 
noble  mind  has  soared  above  despair,  even  at  a  pe 
riod  when  he  experienced  injustice  from  the  public, 
and  when  darkness  and  gloom  overspread  our  land. 
Though  he  was  not  invested  with  any  active  com 
mand,  he  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  the  British 
army,  which  was  near  the  spot  where  his  elegant 
country  seat  had  been  demolished.  Here  he  sought 
an  interview  with  the  Baroness  Reidesel,  who  with 
her  three  children,  for  she  was  entrusted  with  this 
charge  during  the  campaign,  he  politely  accommo 
dated  in  his  own  tent,  and  invited  her  to  become  his 
guest  at  his  residence  at  Albany,  On  the  day  of  the 
surrender,  all  the  captive  generals  dined  with  Gen 
eral  Gates,  and  received  from  him  the  kindest  civili 
ties  and  attention. 

We  have  now  brought  to  a  glorious  termination  a 
military  campaign,  pregnant  with  remarkable  vicis 
situdes  and  momentous  events ;  the  result  of  which, 
seemed  for  a  time  to  poise  on  a  pinnacle  of  sanguine 
hopes  and  expectations  on  the  one  side,  and  the  most 


134  MILITARY  JOU&NAL,  1777. 

appalling  apprehensions  on  the  other.  All  gratitude 
and  praise  be  ascribed  to  Him,  who  alone  limits  the 
extent  of  human  power,  and  decrees  the  destiny  of 
nations. 

21st. — The  captive  Generals  Burgoyne,  Phillips, 
Reidesel,  &c.  with  a  number  of  ladies  of  high  rank, 
arrived  last  evening  at  the  hospitable  mansion  of 
General  Schuyler  in  this  city.  His  seat  is  about  one 
mile  out  of  town,  and  I  have  frequently  made  it  a 
walk  for  amusement.  It  is  a  house  of  two  stories^ 
in  elegant  ancient  style,  and  fancifully  ornamented. 
I  am  informed  that  it  has  for  several  generations  been 
celebrated  for  the  great  respectability,  and  generous 
hospitality  of  its  inhabitants.  During  the  last  French 
war,  it  was  almost  a  general  resort  for  British  officers, 
as  well  as  strangers  and  travellers  of  note. 

22d. — The  magnanimous  General  Schuyler,  with 
his  lady  and  daughters,  have  given  their  unfortunate 
guests  a  friendly  and  polite  reception,  characteristic 
of  this  noble  spirited  family.  Notwithstanding  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne  destroyed  their  beautiful  villa  at 
Saratoga,  they  appear  disposed  to  console  them  in 
their  misfortune  by  all  the  civilities  and  attention  in 
their  power. 

23cL — General  Burgoyne  gratefully  acknowledged 
the  generous  treatment  received  from  General  Schuy 
ler,  and  observed  to  him,  "  You  show  me  great  kind 
ness,  Sir,  though  I  have  done  you  much  injury." 
To  which  he  magnanimously  replied,  "  That  was  the 
fate  of  war,  let  us  say  no  more  about  it." 

24:th. — This  hospital  is  now  crowded  with  officers 
and  soldiers  from  the  field  of  battle  ;  those  belonging 
to  the  British  and  Hessian  troops,  are  accommodated 
in  the  same  hospital  with  our  own  men,  and  receive 
equal  care  and  attention.  The  foreigners  are  under 
the  care  and  management  of  their  own  surgeons.  I 
have  been  present  at  some  of  their  capital  operations, 
and  remarked,  that  the  English  surgeons  perform 
with  skill  and  dexterity,  but  the  Germans,  with  a  few 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777.  135 

exceptions,  do  no  credit  to  their  profession ;  some 
of  them  are  the  most  uncouth  and  clumsy  operators  I 
ever  witnessed,  and  appear  to  be  destitute  of  all  sym 
pathy  and  tenderness  towards  the  suffering  patient. 
Not  less  than  one  thousand  wounded  and  sick  are  now 
in  this  city ;  the  Dutch  church,  and  several  private 
houses  are  occupied  as  hospitals.  We  have  about 
thirty  surgeons,  and  mates ;  and  all  are  constantly 
employed.  I  am  obliged  to  devote  the  whole  of  my 
time  from  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  a  late  hour 
in  the  evening,  to  the  care  of  our  patients.  Here  is 
a  fine  field  for  professional  improvement.  Ampu 
tating  limbs,  trepanning  fractured  skulls,  and  dressing 
the  most  formidable  wounds,  have  familiarized  my 
mind  to  scenes  of  woe.  A  military  hospital  is  pecu 
liarly  calculated  to  afford  examples  for  profitable 
contemplation,  and  to  interest  our  sympathy  and 
commiseration.  If  I  turn  from  beholding  mutilat 
ed  bodies,  mangled  limbs  and  bleeding,  incurable 
wounds,  a  spectacle  no  less  revolting,  is  presented,  of 
miserable  objects,  languishing  under  afflicting  diseases 
of  every  description — here,  are  those  in  a  mournful 
state  of  despair,  exhibiting  the  awful  harbingers  of 
approaching  dissolution — there,  are  those  with  ema 
ciated  bodies  and  ghastly  visage,  who  begin  to  triumph 
over  grim  disease  and  just  lift  their  feeble  heads  from 
the  pillow  of  sorrow.  No  parent,  wife  or  sister,  to 
wipe  the  tear  of  anguish  from  their  eyes,  or  to  soothe 
the  pillow  of  death,  they  look  up  to  the  physician  as 
their  only  earthly  friend  and  comforter,  and  trust  the 
hands  of  a  stranger  to  perform  the  last  mournful 
duties.  Frequently  have  I  remarked  their  confi 
dence  in  my  friendship,  as  though  I  was  endeared  to 
them  by  brotherly  ties.  Viewing  these  unfortunate 
men  as  the  faithful  defenders  of  the  liberties  of  our 
country,  far  separated  from  their  dearest  friends,  who 
would  be  so  lost  to  the  duties  of  humanity,  patriotism, 
and  benevolence,  as  not  to  minister  to  their  comfort, 
and  pour  into  their  wounds  the  healing  balm  of  con- 


136  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

solation  ?  It  is  my  lot  to  have  twenty  wounded  men 
committed  to  my  care,  by  Dr.  Potts,  our  Surgeon 
General ;  one  of  whom,  a  young  man,  received  a 
musket  ball  through  his  cheeks,  cutting  its  way 
through  the  teeth  on  each  side,  and  the  substance  of 
the  tongue ;  his  sufferings  have  been  great,  but  he 
now  begins  to  articulate  tolerably  well.  Another  had 
the  whole  side  of  his  face  torn  off  by  a  cannon  ball, 
laying  his  mouth  and  throat  open  to  view.  A  brave 
soldier  received  a  musket  ball  in  his  forehead,  ob 
serving  that  it  did  not  penetrate  deep,  it  was  imagined 
that  the  ball  rebounded  and  fell  out ;  but  after  several 
days,  on  examination,  I  detected  the  ball  laying  flat 
on  the  bone,  and  spread  under  the  skin,  which  I  re 
moved.  No  one  can  doubt  but  he  received  his 
wound  while  facing  the  enemy,  and  it  is  fortunate  for 
the  brave  fellow,  that  his  skull  proved  too  thick  for 
the  ball  to  penetrate.  But  in  another  instance,  a 
soldier's  wound  was  not  so  honorable ;  he  received  a 
ball  in  the  bottom  of  his  foot,  which  could  not  have 
happened  unless  when  in  the  act  of  running  from  the 
enemy.  This  poor  fellow  is  held  in  derision  by  his 
comrades,  and  is  made  a  subject  of  their  wit  for  hav 
ing  the  mark  of  a  coward.  Among  the  most  remark 
able  occurrences  which  came  under  my  observation, 
the  following  is  deserving  of  particular  notice.  Cap 
tain  Greg,  of  one  of  the  New  York  regiments,  while 
stationed  at  Fort  Stanwix,  on  the  Mohawk  river, 
went  with  two  of  his  soldiers  into  the  woods  a  short 
distance  to  shoot  pigeons ;  a  party  of  Indians  started 
suddenly  from  concealment  in  the  bushes,  shot  them 
all  down,  tomahawked  and  scalped  them,  and  left 
them  for  dead.  The  captain,  after  some  time  re 
vived,  and  perceiving  his  men  were  killed,  himself 
robbed  of  his  scalp,  and  suffering  extreme  agony  from 
his  numerous  wounds,  made  an  effort  to  move  and 
lay  his  bleeding  head  on  one  of  the  dead  bodies,  ex 
pecting  soon  to  expire.  A  faithful  dog  who  accom 
panied  him.  manifested  great  agitation,  and  in  the 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  137 

tenderest  manner  licked  his  wounds,  which  afforded 
him  great  relief  from  exquisite  distress.  He  then 
directed  the  dog,  as  if  a  human  being,  to  go  in  search 
of  some  person  to  come  to  his  relief.  The  animal, 
with  every  appearance  of  anxiety,  ran  about  a  mile, 
when  he  met  with  two  men  fishing  in  the  river,  and 
endeavored  in  the  most  moving  manner,  by  whining 
and  piteous  cries,  to  prevail  on  them  to  follow  him 
into  the  woods ;  struck  with  the  singular  conduct  of 
the  dog,  they  were  induced  to  follow  him  part  of  the 
way,  but  fearing  some  decoy,  or  danger,  they  were 
about  to  return,  when  the  dog,  fixing  his  eyes  on 
them,  renewed  his  entreaties  by  his  cries,  and  taking- 
hold  of  their  clothes  with  his  teeth,  prevailed  on 
them  to  follow  him  to  the  fatal  spot.  Such  was  the 
remarkable  fidelity  and  sagacity  of  this  animal. 
Captain  Greg  was  immediately  carried  to  the  fort, 
where  his  wounds  were  dressed ;  he  was  afterwards 
removed  to  our  hospital,  and  put  under  my  care.  He 
was  a  most  frightful  spectacle,  the  whole  of  his  scalp 
was  removed ;  in  two  places  on  the  fore  part  of  his 
head,  the  tomahawk  had  penetrated  through  the 
skull ;  there  was  a  wound  on  his  back  with  the  same 
instrument,  besides  a  wound  in  his  side  and  another 
through  his  arm  by  a  musket  ball.  This  unfortunate 
man,  after  suffering  extremely  for  a  long  time,  finally 
recovered,  and  appeared  to  be  well  satisfied  in  hav 
ing  his  scalp  restored  to  him,  though  uncovered  with 
hair.  The  Indian  mode  of  scalping  their  victims  is 
this — with  a  knife  they  make  a  circular  cut  from  the 
forehead,  quite  round,  just  above  the  ears,  then 
taking  hold  of  the  skin  with  their  teeth,  they  tear 
off  the  whole  hairy  scalp  in  an  instant,  with  won 
derful  dexterity.  This  they  carefully  dry  and  pre 
serve  as  a  trophy,  showing  the  number  of  their  vic 
tims,  and  they  have  a  method  of  painting  on  the  dried 
scalp,  different  figures,  and  colors,  to  designate  the 
sex  and  age  of  the  victim,  and  also  the  manner  and 
circumstances  of  the  murder. 
18 


138  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

November  Wth. — I  witnessed  yesterday,  the  sin 
gular  ceremony  performed  at  a  treaty  with  the  Six 
Nations  of  Indians.  General  Schuyler,  and  two  other 
gentlemen,  were  the  commissioners  on  our  part.  Of 
the  Indians,  about  two  hundred  men  and  women  at 
tended.  In  the  morning,  I  walked  into  the  woods 
near  this  city,  and  was  amused  to  see  them  occupied 
in  dressing  and  ornamenting  themselves  for  the  cere 
mony  ;  painting  their  faces,  adjusting  their  hair,  put 
ting  jewels  into  their  ears,  noses,  &c.  The  face  was 
painted  of  various  colors ;  in  general  red,  spotted 
with  black  and  white  in  a  fanciful  manner.  The  men 
had  their  hair  cut  close  to  the  skin,  except  a  lock  on 
the  top  of  the  head.  The  women  wore  long  hair, 
ornamented  with  beads  and  other  trinkets.  The 
bodies  and  limbs  of  both  sexes  were  decently  covered 
in  the  Indian  style,  and  some  displayed  large  silver 
rings  round  the  arm,  and  a  profusion  of  party-colored 
beads,  fancifully  arranged  about  the  legs  and  feet. 
Several  of  the  young  men,  and  girls,  were  furnished 
with  little  bells  about  their  feet,  to  make  a  jingling 
when  dancing.  About  eleven  o'clock,  the  ceremony 
commenced  on  the  common ;  the  Indians  arranged 
themselves,  by  sitting  on  the  ground  in  a  circle,  the 
men  on  one  side,  the  women  on  the  other,  leaving  a 
vacancy  for  our  commissioners,  who  were  seated  in 
chairs.  In  the  centre  of  the  circle  was  a  fire,  over 
which  a  large  pot  containing  meat  broth,  or  soup, 
was  placed.  The  speakers  were  three  elderly  chiefs ; 
their  speeches  or  talks  were  short,  and  at  the  close 
of  each,  the  speaker  delivered  to  the  commissioners 
a  belt  or  string  of  wampum,  curiously  worked  with 
porcupine  quills,  and  handsomely  painted,  as  a  pledge 
of  sincerity.  The  interpreter  explained  in  English. 
In  the  intervals  between  the  talks,  the  whole  of  the 
Indians  and  squaws  threw  their  bodies  into  odd  mo 
tions,  and  at  the  same  time  a  noise  came  from  their 
throats  very  similar  to  the  grunting  of  swine,  which 
I  suppose,  was  a  token  of  approbation.  They  next 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  139 

commenced  dancing,  by  uniting  hands  two  or  three 
at  a  time,  and  jumping  merrily  round  the  pot  over 
the  fire,  animated  by  the  music  of  a  small  drum 
resembling  a  keg  covered  with  a  skin,  and  the  jingling 
of  the  bells  attached  to  their  legs  and  feet.  The  in 
terpreter,  by  desire  of  the  chiefs,  requested  that  our 
commissioners  would  not  be  offended  at  the  liberty 
which  they  were  about  to  take.  One  of  the  chiefs 
then  took  the  commissioners,  one  at  a  time,  by  the 
hand,  arid  danced  them  round  the  circle,  then  rub 
bing  his  hand  abou/t  the  grease  and  blacking  of  the 
pot,  he  blackened  the  face,  first  of  General  Schuyler, 
and  then  the  other  gentlemen,  which  excited  much 
laughter.  Whether  this  was  a  trick  to  excite  a 
laugh,  or  a  part  of  their  national  ceremony,  I  was 
unable  to  ascertain.  The  Indians  continued  dancing 
round  the  fire,  drinking  the  soup  from  the  pot  and 
regaling  themselves  with  rum  all  night,  and  many  of 
them  were  found  drunk  in  the  morning. 

My  professional  duties  have  been  so  pressing  as 
to  preclude  the  possibility  of  journalizing  to  the 
full  extent  of  my  wishes.  The  numerous  important 
events  which  have  occurred  to  our  main  army  under 
General  Washington,  in  the  Jerseys,  and  Pennsylva 
nia,  have  been  from  time  to  time  announced  in  the 
public  papers,  and  in  our  general  orders.  A  very 
brief  retrospect  of  the  most  interesting  occurrences 
during  the  campaign  in  that  quarter  must  suffice  me. 

General  Washington,  having  ascertained  that  it 
was  the  great  object  of  Sir  William  Howe  to  possess 
himself  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  put  in  requisition 
every  effort  in  his  power  to  counteract  his  measures 
for  this  purpose.  His  force  during  the  whole  cam 
paign  was  considerably  inferior  to  that  of  the  enemy. 
Battles  and  skirmishing  of  more  or  less  importance 
were  frequent,  but  not  decisive,  though  attended  by 
no  inconsiderable  loss  of  human  lives.  On  the  llth  of 
September  the  two  armies  approached  each  other  in 
the  order  of  battle,  and  a  general  action  took  place 


140  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777. 

at  Brandywine,  in  which  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
hoth  armies  displayed  a  spirit  of  intrepidity  and 
heroism,  scarcely  ever  exceeded.  The  British  claim 
the  victory ;  but  it  was  only  a  partial  one,  and  besides 
a  prodigious  sacrifice  of  lives,  they  failed  in  their 
main  object,  that  of  forcing  their  way  to  Philadel 
phia.  It  is  stated,  that  from  particular  circumstances, 
little  more  than  one  half  of  General  Washington's 
force  was  opposed  to  nearly  the  whole  strength  of 
the  enemy.  Our  loss  is  mentioned  in  round  numbers 
at  one  thousand.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  and 
General  Woodford  were  slightly  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  royalists,  according  to  accounts  published, 
greatly  exceeds  that  of  the  Americans. 

On  the  16th  of  September,  Monsieur  deCondry,  an 
officer  of  rank  and  distinction  in  the  French  service, 
and  acting  as  a  volunteer  in  our  army,  having  occasion 
to  cross  the  Schuylkill  ferry,  rode  a  high  spirited 
horse  into  the  boat,  which,  taking  fright,  leaped  into 
the  river,  and  the  rider  was  unfortunately  drowned. 
Congress  resolved  that  the  corpse  of  Monsieur  de 
Condry  be  interred  at  the  expense  of  the  United 
States,  and  with  the  honors  of  war. 

Sir  William  Howe,  on  the  26th  of  September,  after 
much  manoeuvring  and  skirmishing,  accomplished  his 
great  enterprize,  and  made  his  triumphal  entry  into 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  wrhere  he  met  with  a  cor 
dial  welcome  from  the  Quakers,  and  a  considerable 
number  of  the  inhabitants,  who  have  long  been  known 
to  be  in  favor  of  the  royalists. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  General  Washington 
planned  an  attack  on  the  main  body  of  the  enemy 
stationed  at  Orermantown,  near  Philadelphia.  The 
enterprize  was  planned  with  such  judgment  and 
skill,  as  to  afford  promise  of  a  complete  victory. 
The  execution  of  it  was  conducted  by  his  Excellency, 
who  attacks  like  a  hero  and  retreats  like  a  general, 
and  whose  presence  infuses  into  the  ranks  the  spirit 
of  heroism  and  enthusiasm.  Were  it  not  for  some 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1777.  14l 

unfortunate  incidents,  and  the  faulty  conduct  of  a 
few  individuals,  his  most  sanguine  hopes  would  have 
been  realized.  The  enemy  was  actually  taken  by 
surprize,  and  in  one  point  a  party  was  routed  and 
one  hundred  and  ten  made  prisoners,  but  were  after 
wards  retaken.  Almost  the  whole  force  of  both 
armies  was  involved  in  the  tremendous  contest,  in 
which  British  and  American  bravery  were  equally 
conspicuous,  and  sealed  the  fate  of  many  valiant  offi 
cers  and  men.  "  The  morning/'  says  General  Wash 
ington's  letter  to  Congress,  "  was  extremely  foggy, 
which  prevented  our  improving  the  advantage  we 
had  gained,  so  well  as  we  otherwise  should  have 
done.  This  circumstance,  by  concealing  from  us  the 
true  situation  of  the  enemy,  obliged  us  to  act  with 
more  caution  and  less  expedition  than  we  could  have 
wished,  and  gave  the  enemy  time  to  recover  from 
the  effects  of  our  first  impression ;  and  what  was 
still  more  unfortunate,  it  served  to  keep  our  different 
parties  in  ignorance  of  each  other's  movements,  and 
hindered  their  acting  in  concert ;  it  also  occasioned 
them  to  mistake  one  another  for  the  enemy,  which  I 
believe  more  than  any  thing  else,  contributed  to  the 
misfortunes  which  ensued.  In  the  midst  of  the  most 
promising  appearances,  when  every  thing  gave  the 
most  flattering  hopes  of  victory,  the  troops  began  sud 
denly  to  retreat,  and  entirely  left  the  field  in  spite  of 
every  effort  that  could  be  made  to  rally  them.  On 
the  whole,  it  may  be  said,  this  day  was  rather  unfor 
tunate  than  injurious.  The  principal  impediment  to 
our  success  was,  that  at  the  moment  of  victory,  the 
enemy  threw  a  party  into  Mr.  Chew's  stone  house, 
who  were  in  a  situation  not  easily  to  be  forced ;  and 
had  it  in  their  power,  from  the  windows,  to  give  us 
considerable  annoyance,  and  in  a  measure  to  obstruct 
our  advance." 

A  general  officer  who  was  engaged  in  the  battle, 
says,  "  Fortune  smiled  on  our  arms  for  hours.  The 
enemy  were  broken^  dispersed  and  flying  on  all 


142  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

quarters :  we  were  in  possession  of  their  whole  en 
campment^  together  with  their  artillery  park,  &c. 
But  confusion  at  last  ensued,  and  we  ran  away  from 
the  arms  of  victory  ready  to  receive  us."  It  is  not 
to  be  concealed  however,  that  our  army  suffered  a 
very  considerable  loss,  the  whole  number  is  not  ascer 
tained.  General  Nash,  of  North  Carolina,  received 
a  mortal  wound,  and  General  Sullivan's  two  aids  were 
killed.  On  the  side  of  the  royalists,  General  Agnew, 
General  de  Heister's  son,  and  several  other  officers 
were  killed.  General  Kniphausen  was  wounded, 
and  a  great  number  of  rank  and  file  were  wounded 
and  slain. 

The  Americans  have  erected  several  forts  and 
redoubts  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware  river,  and  on 
Mud  Island,  to  guard  against  the  passage  of  the 
British  fleet  up  this  river  to  Philadelphia.  In  one 
of  these  forts  at  Red  Bank,  Colonel  Greene,  of  Rhode 
Island,  wras  posted  with  about  four  hundred  men. 
General  Howe,  perceiving  the  great  importance  of 
reducing  these  works,  detached  Count  Donop,  an 
officer  held  in  high  estimation  in  the  royal  army, 
with  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  Hessian  troops,  well 
supplied  with  artillery,  to  take  possession  of  it. 
Having  arrived  near  the  redoubts,  he  summoned  the 
commander  to  surrender,  to  which  he  resolutely  re 
plied,  he  would  defend  the  place  to  the  last  extre 
mity.  This  fort  being  originally  constructed  on  a 
large  scale,  it  was  found  necessary  to  run  a  line  across 
the  middle,  and  divide  it  into  two,  so  that  the  ex 
ternal  part  was  left  without  defence.  The  Hessian 
commander  ordered  his  troops  to  advance  under 
cover  of  the  smoke  of  his  cannon  and  storm  the  re 
doubt  ;  they  soon  gained  the  unoccupied  part  with 
loud  huzzas  on  their  supposed  victory ;  but  on  ap 
proaching  the  new  lines  within,  where  our  troops 
were  stationed,  the  brave  garrison  poured  on  them 
such  hot  and  well  directed  fire  for  about  forty 
minutes,  that  they  were  completely  overpowered,  and 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1777.  143 

fled  ill  every  direction.  Colonel  Donop,  their  com 
mander,  was  mortally  wounded  and  taken,  and  more 
than  one  hundred  wrere  killed  on  the  spot,  and  a 
greater  number  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  enemy 
retreated  with  great  precipitation,  leaving  many  of 
their  wounded  on  the  road,  and  returned  to  Phila 
delphia  with  the  loss  of  one  half  their  party.  Colonel 
Greene,  and  his  hrave  troops,  acquired  great  honop 
for  their  gallant  defence  of  the  fort,  which  is  a  key 
to  other  posts  on  the  river.  Congress  have  rewarded 
the  Colonel,  with  an  elegant  sword.  The  British 
army  found  it  difficult  to  procure  the  necessary  sup 
plies  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  continental  galleys  and 
strong  chevaux  de  frize  in  the  Delaware,  rendered 
a  passage  of  their  ships  up  to  the  city,  almost  impos 
sible.  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  determined  to  attempt 
the  removal  of  these  formidable  obstructions,  and  he 
ordered  six  of  his  ships  to  engage  in  this  service. 
They  were  so  unmercifully  handled  by  our  galleys, 
and  from  Fort  Mifflin,  at  Mud  Island,  that  two  of 
them,  one  of  sixty  four  guns,  run  aground  and  were 
set  on  fire  by  the  crews  who  deserted  them,  and  soon 
after  they  blew  up. 

December. — Fort  Mifflin,  on  Mud  Island,  has  been 
evacuated  by  the  continental  garrison,  after  having 
been  bravely  defended  against  the  prodigious  force  of 
the  enemy's  shipping.  Our  troops  secured  all  their 
stores,  destroyed  the  block  houses,  and  demolished  the 
bank,  to  let  in  the  water,  by  which  the  Island  is  entirely 
inundated.  The  fort  at  Red  Bank  is  also  abandoned, 
and  the  continental  fleet  has  been  burnt,  to  prevent 
its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  British 
are  now7  in  full  possession  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
and  their  fleet  has  obtained  access  to  it  by  way  of 
the  Delaware  river.  The  continental  army,  since 
the  close  of  the  campaign,  has  retired  for  winter 
quarters  to  a  place  called  Valley  Forge,  about  20 
miles  from  Philadelphia.  Here  they  are  subjected 
to  the  fatigue  ^and  labor  of  clearing  the  woods  and 


144  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1777. 

constructing  log  huts  for  their  accommodation  during 
the  winter. 

An  occurrence  of  a  very  singular  conplexion,  has 
lately  been  published  in  a  Pennsylvania  newspaper, 
which  occasions  much  indignant  speculation.  The 
Reverend  Jacob  Duche,  a  popular  Episcopal  minister 
in  Philadelphia,  was  the  first  chaplain  appointed  by 
Congress.  He  performed  his  official  duties  to  gen 
eral  acceptance,  frequently  and  fervently  imploring 
heaven  to  succeed  the  American  cause.  Whether 
from  alarm  at  the  success  of  the  royalists,  or  from 
any  change  in  his  sentiments  respecting  the  justice 
of  our  cause,  is  uncertain,  but  after  having  officiated 
about  three  months,  he  gave  in  his  resignation.  He 
left  Philadelphia,  and  "  took  shelter  under  the  arm 
of  that  power  which  from  the  sacred  pulpit  he  had 
exhorted  his  hearers  to  oppose. "  But  it  is  no  less 
extraordinary,  that  this  apostate  addressed  a  letter  to 
his  Excellency  General  Washington,  with  whom  he 
was  on  terms  of  friendship,  in  which,  to  use  the 
author's  own  words,  "  he  has  spoken  freely  of  Con 
gress,  and  of  the  army"  He  enjoins  it  on  his  Ex 
cellency  to  abandon  the  American  cause,  and  resign 
his  command  of  the  army ;  or  at  the  head  of  it,  to 
force  Congress  immediately  to  desist  from  hostilities 
and  to  rescind  their  declaration  of  Independence.  If 
this  is  not  done,  he  says,  "  You  have  an  infallible 
resource  still  left,  negotiate  for  America  at  the  head 
of  your  army"  He  represents  the  Congress  in  the 
most  despicable  point  of  view,  as  consisting  of  weak, 
obscure  persons,  not  fit  associates  for  his  Excellency, 
and  the  very  dregs  of  the  first  Congress.  The  New 
England  delegates  he  treats  with  the  greatest  indeli 
cacy.  The  officers  and  men  w7hich  compose  our 
army,  he  describes  as  destitute  of  principle  and 
courage  ;  undisciplined,  taken  from  the  lowest  of  the 
people,  unfit  for  a  seat  at  his  Excellency's  table,  &c. 
&c.  Thus  has  this  vile  calumniator  disgraced  his 
profession,  and  involved  his  own  character  in  that 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778.  145 

ignominy  which  he  designed  for  his  superiors.  His 
Excellency  in  noticing  this  transaction  in  a  letter  of 
October  the  16th,  observes,  "  To  Mr.  Duche's  ridi 
culous,  illiberal  performance,  I  made  a  very  short 
reply,  by  desiring  the  hearer  Mrs.  Ferguson,  if  she 
should  hereafter,  by  any  accident  meet  with  Mr. 
Duche,  to  tell  him  I  should  have  returned  his  letter 
unopened  if  I  had  had  any  idea  of  its  contents.* 

20th. — The  wounded  soldiers  committed  to  my 
care  in  October  last,  have  all  recovered,  and  as  a 
compliment  for  my  assiduity,  and  attention  to  my 
patients,  I  have  received  from  Dr.  Potts,  our  Sur 
geon  General,  a  generous  and  handsome  present. 
The  duties  of  our  hospital  being  now  greatly  dimin 
ished,  I  have  obtained  a  furlough  for  forty  days,  and 
shall  to-morrow  commence  my  journey  to  visit  my 
friends  in  NewT  England. 

February  4=thy  1778. — Having  performed  a  jour 
ney  on  horseback  to  Boston  and  Barnstable,  in 

*  The  following  is  the  form  of  prayer  made  use  of  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Duche  in  the  Congress  after  Independence  was  declared. 

O  Lord!  our  heavenly  Father,  high  and  mighty,  King  of  kings,  and 
Lord  of  lords,  who  dost  from  thy  throne  behold  all  the  dwellers  on 
earth,  and  reignest  with  power  supreme  and  uncontroled  over  all 
kingdoms,  empires  and  governments.  Look  down  in  mercy,  we 
beseech  thee,  on  these  our  American  State?,  who  have  fled  to  thee 
from  the  rod  of  the  oppressor,  and  thrown  themselves  on  thy  gracious 
protection,  desiring  to  be  henceforth  dependent  only  oji  thee  ;  to  thee 
have  they  appealed  for  the  righteousness  of  their  cause  ;  to  thee  do 
.they  now  look  up  for  that  countenance  and  support,  which  thou  alone 
canst  give  ;  take  them,  therefore,  heavenly  Father,  under  thy  nurturing 
care  ;  give  them  wisdom  in  council,  and  valor  in  the  field  ;  defeat  the 
malicious  designs  of  our  cruel  adversaries;  convince  them  of  the  un 
righteousness  of  their  cause,  and  if  they  still  persist  in  their  sanguinary 
purposes,  O!  let  the  voice  of  thine  own  unerring  justice,  sounding  in. 
their  hearts,  constrain  them  to  drop  the  weapons  of  war  from  their 
unnerved  hands  in  the  day  of  battle.  Be  thou  present,  O  God  of 
wisdom,  and  direct  the  councils  of  this  honorable  assembly  ;  enable 
them  to  settle  things  on  the  best  and  surest  foundation,  that  the  scene 
of  blood  may  be  speedily  closed,  that  order,  harmony  and  peace  may 
be  effectually  restored,  and  truth  and  justice,  religion  and  piety,  pre 
vail  and  flourish  amongst  thy  people  ;  preserve  the  health  of  their  bodies 
and  the  vigor  of  their  minds  ;  shower  down  on  them,  and  the  millions 
they  here  represent,  such  temporal  blessings,  as  thou  seest  expedient 
for  them  in  this  world,  and  crown  them  with  everlasting  glory  in  the 
world  to  come.  All  this  we  ask  in  the  name,  and  through  the  merits 
of  Jesus  Christ  thy  Son  and  our  Saviour.  Amen. 

19 


146  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

Massachusetts,  I  returned  here  two  days  before  the 
expiration  of  my  furlough,  and  resumed  my  duties 
in  the  hospital.  Several  gentlemen  belonging  to  the 
hospital  being  desirous  of  improving  in  the  accom 
plishment  of  dancing,  Mr.  John  Trotter  has  agreed 
to  open  a  special  scnool  for  our  accommodation,  and 
we  are  to  attend  every  afternoon.  Master  Trotter 
has  for  many  years  been  in  the  practice  of  teaching 
the  art  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  has  acquired 
great  fame  as  a  man  of  knowledge  and  experience 
in  his  profession.  He  is  about  fifty  eight  years  of  age, 
a  small,  genteel,  well  proportioned  man,  every  limb 
and  joint  proclaiming  that  he  is  ff  »ned  for  his  pro 
fession,  and  the  ease  and  grace  with  wrhich  he  moves 
on  the  floor,  evince,  that  he  is  an  accomplished 
master,  and  that  he  has  lost  none  of  his  agility  by 
age.  Under  the  tuition  of  such  a  master,  we  flatter 
ourselves  that  in  due  time,  if  we  improve  our  ad 
vantages,  we  shall  be  able  to  figure  in  a  ball  room. 

10th. — I  have  now  obtained  a  particular  descrip 
tion  of  the  American  Torpedo,  and  other  ingenious 
submarine  machinery,  invented  by  Mr.  David  Bush- 
nell,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  shipping  while  at 
anchor,  some  account  of  which  may  be  f'Aind  in  this 
Journal,  page  75.  The  external  appearance  of  the  tor 
pedo,  bears  some  resemblance  to  two  upper  tortoise 
shells,  of  equal  size,  placed  in  contact,  leaving  at  that 
part,  which  represents  the  head  of  the  animal,  a 
flue,  or  opening  sufficiently  capacious  to  contain  the 
operator,  and  air  to  support  him  thirty  minutes.  At 
the  bottom,  opposite  to  the  entrance,  is  placed  a 
quantity  of  lead  for  ballast.  The  operator  sits  up 
right,  and  holds  an  oar  for  rowing  forward  or  back 
ward,  and  is  furnished  with  a  rudder  for  steering. 
An  aperture  at  the  bottom,  with  its  valve,  admits 
water  for  the  purpose  of  descending,  and  two  brass 
forcing  pumps  serve  to  eject  the  water  within,  when 
necessary  for  ascending.  The  vessel  is  made  com 
pletely  water  tight,  furnished  with  glass  windows  for 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778.  147 

the  admission  of  light,  with  ventilators  and  air  pipes, 
and  is  so  ballasted,  with  lead  fixed  at  the  bottom,  as 
to  render  it  solid,  and  obviate  all  danger  of  over 
setting.  Behind  the  submarine  vessel,  is  a  place 
above  the  rudder  for  carrying  a  large  powder  maga 
zine  ;  this  is  made  of  two  pieces  of  oak  timber,  large 
enough  when  hollowed  out,  to  contain  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds  of  powder,  with  the  apparatus  used 
for  firing  it,  and  is  secured  in  its  place,  by  a  screw 
turned  by  the  operator.  It  is  lighter  than  water, 
that  it  may  rise  against  the  object  to  which  it  is  in 
tended  to  be  fastened.  Within  the  magazine,  is  an 
apparatus  constructed  to  run  any  proposed  length  of 
time  under  twelve  hours ;  when  it  has  run  out  its 
time,  it  unpinions  a  strong  lock,  resembling  a  gun 
lock,  which  gives  fire  to'  the  powder.  This  appa 
ratus  is  so  pinioned,  that  it  cannot  possibly  move,  till, 
by  casting  off  the  magazine  from  the  vessel,  it  is  set 
in  motion.  The  skilful  operator  can  swim  so  low  on 
the  surface  of  the  water,  as  to  approach  very  near  a 
ship  in  the  night,  without  fear  of  being  discovered ; 
and  may  if  he  choose,  approach  the  stern  or  stem, 
above  water,  with  very  little  danger.  He  can  sink 
very  quickly,  keep  at  any  necessary  depth,  and  row 
a  great  distance  in  any  direction  he  desires  without 
coming  to  the  surface.  When  he  rises  to  the  surface, 
he  can  soon  obtain  a  fresh  supply  of  air,  and  if  neces 
sary,  he  may  then  descend  again  and  pursue  his 
course.  Mr.  Bushnell  found,  that  it  required  many- 
trials  and  considerable  instruction  to  make  a  man  of 
common  ingenuity  a  skilful  operator.  The  first  per 
son,  his  brother,  whom  he  employed,  was  very  inge 
nious  and  made  himself  master  of  the  business,  but 
Was  taken  sick  before  he  had  an  opportunity  to  make 
use  of  his  skill.  Having  procured  a  substitute,  and 
given  him  such  instruction  as  time  would  allow,  he 
was  directed  to  try  an  experiment  on  the  Eagle,  a 
sixty  four  gun  ship,  on  board  of  which  Lord  Howe 
-commanded,  lying  in  the  harbor  of  New  York.  He 


148  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

went  under  the  ship,  and  attempted  to  fix  the  wooden 
screw  into  her  bottom,  but  struck,  as  he  supposes,  a 
bar  of  iron  which  passes  from  the  rudder  hinge,  and 
is  spiked  under  the  ship's  quarter.  Had  he  moved  a 
few  inches,  whiah  he  might  have  done  without  row 
ing,  there  is  no  doubt  he  would  have  found  wood  where 
he  might  have  fixed  the  scre^r ;  or  if  the  ship  had  been 
sheathed  with  copper,  he  might  easily  have  pierced 
it.  But  not  being  well  skilled  in  the  management  of 
the  vessel,  in  attempting  to  move  to  another  place,  he 
lost  the  ship.  After  seeking  her  in  vain,  for  some 
time,  he  rowed  some  distance,  and  rose  to  the  surface 
of  the  water,  but  found  day  light  had  advanced  so 
far,  that  he  durst  not  renew  the  attempt.  He  says, 
that  he  could  easily  have  fastened  the  magazine  under 
the  stern  of  the  ship,  above  water,  as  he  rowed  up 
to  the  stern  and  touched  it  before  he  descended. 
Had  he  fastened  it  there,  the  explosion  of  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  pounds  of  powder,  the  quantity  con 
tained  in  the  magazine,  must  have  been  fatal  to  the 
ship.  In  his  return  from  the  ship  to  New  York,  he 
passed  near  Governor's  Island,  and  thought  he  was 
discovered  by  the  enemy  on  the  island.  Being  in 
haste,  to  avoid  the  danger  he  feared,  he  cast  off  the 
magazine,  as  he  imagined  it  retarded  him  in  the 
swell,  which  was  very  considerable.  After  the  maga 
zine  had  been  cast  off  one  hour,  the  time  the  internal 
apparatus  was  set  to  run,  it  blew  up  with  great  vio 
lence,  throwing  a  vast  column  of  water  to  an  amazing 
height  in  the  air,  and  leaving  the  enemy  to  conjecture 
whether  the  stupendous  noise  was  produced  by  a 
bomb,  a  meteor,  a  water  spout,  or  an  earthquake. 
Some  other  attempts  were  made  in  Hudson's  river, 
in  one  of  which  the  operator  in  going  towards  the 
ship,  lost  sight  of  her  and  went  a  great  distance  be 
yond  her,  and  the  tide  ran  so  strong  as  to  baffle  all 
his  efforts.  Mr.  Bushnell  being  in  ill  health,  and 
destitute  of  resources,  was  obliged  to  abandon  his 
pursuit  at  that  time,  and  wait  for  a  more  favorable 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778.  149 

opportunity,  which  never  occurred.  In  the  year 
1777,  Mr.  Bushnell  made  an  attempt  from  a  whale 
boat,  against  the  Cerberus  frigate  lying  at  anchor,  by 
drawing  a  machine  against  her  side,  by  means  of  a 
line.  The  machine  was  loaded  with  powder,  to  be 
exploded  by  a  gun  lock,  which  was  to  be  unpinioned 
by  an  apparatus  to  be  turned  by  being  brought  along 
side  of  the  frigate.  This  machine  fell  in  with  a 
schooner  at  anchor  astern  of  the  frigate,  and  conceal 
ed  from  his  sight.  By  some  means  it  became  fixed, 
and  exploding,  demolished  the  schooner.  Commo 
dore  Simmons,  being  on  board  the  Cerberus,  address 
ed  an  official  letter  to  Sir  Peter  Parker,  describing 
this  singular  disaster.  Being  at  anchor  to  the  west 
ward  of  New  London,  with  a  schooner  which  he  had 
taken,  discovered  about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
a  line  towing  astern  from  the  bows.  He  believed 
that  some  person  had  veered  away  by  it  and  imme 
diately  began  to  haul  in.  A  sailor,  belonging  to  the 
schooner,  taking  it  for  a  fishing  line,  laid  hold  of  it  and 
drew  in  about  fifteen  fathoms.  It  was  buoyed  up  by 
small  pieces  of  wood  tied  to  it  at  stated  distances.  At 
the  end  of  the  rope  a  machine  was  fastened  too  heavy 
for  one  man  to  pull  up,  for  it  exceeded  one  hundred 
pounds  in  weight.  The  other  people  of  the  schooner 
coming  to  his  assistance,  they  drew  it  on  deck. 
While  the  men  were  examining  the  machine,  about 
five  minutes  from  the  time  the  wheel  had  been  put 
in  motion,  it  exploded,  blew  the  vessel  into  pieces, 
and  set  her  on  fire.  Three  men  were  killed,  and  the 
fourth  blown  into  the  water,  much  injured.  On  ex 
amining  round  the  ship  after  this  accident,  the  other 
part  of  the  line  was  discovered,  buoyed  up  in  the 
same  manner.  This  the  commodore  ordered  to  be 
instantly  cut  away,  for  fear  of  hauling  up  another 
of  the  infernals,  as  he  termed  it.  These  machines 
were  constructed  with  wheels,  furnished  with  irons 
sharpened  at  the  end,  and  projecting  about  an  inch. 


150  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

in  order  to  strike  the  sides  of  the  vessel  when  hauling 
them  up,  thereby  setting  the  wheels  in  motion,  which 
in  the  space  of  five  minutes  causes  the  explosion, 
Had  the  whole  apparatus  been  brought  to  operate  on 
a  ship  at  the  same  time,  it  must  have  occasioned  pro 
digious  destruction.  Mr.  Bushnell  contrived  another 
ingenious  expedient  to  eifect  his  favorite  object.  He 
fixed  a  large  number  of  kegs  under  water,  charged 
with  powder,  to  explode  on  coming  in  contact  with 
any  thing  while  floating  along  with  the  tide.  He 
set  his  squadron  of  kegs  afloat  in  the  Delaware,  above 
the  English  shipping,  in  December,  1777.  The  kegs 
were  in  the  night  set  adrift,  to  fall  with  the  ebb,  on 
the  shipping  ;  but  the  proper  distance  could  not  be 
well  ascertained,  and  they  were  set  adrift  at  too 
great  a  distance  from  the  vessels,  by  which  means 
they  were  obstructed  and  dispersed  by  the  ice. 
They  approached,  however,  in  the  day  time,  and 
one  of  them  blew  up  a  boat,  and  others  exploded, 
which  occasioned  among  the  British  seamen  the 
greatest  alarm  and  consternation.  They  actually 
manned  the  wharves  and  shipping  at  Philadelphia, 
and  discharged  their  small  arms  and  cannon,  at  every 
thing  they  could  see  floating  in  the  river,  during  the 
ebb  tide.  This  incident  has  received  the  name  of 
the  battle  of  the  kegs*  and  furnished  a  subject  for 
an  excellent  and  humorous  song,  by  the  Honorable 
Francis  Hopkinson,  which  is  inserted  in  the  Appen 
dix. 

April. — Major  General  Lee,  captured  by  the  ene 
my  in  December,  1776,  has  been  exchanged  for 
Major  General  Prescott,  who  was  taken  at  Rhode 
Island,  by  Colonel  Barton. 

The  glorious  intelligence  being  announced,  that 
Congress  have  negotiated  a  treaty  of  alliance  with 
the  Court  of  France,  General  Washington  has  issued 
the  following  orders  for  the  army  to  celebrate  the 
momentous  event. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,    1778.  151 

Head  Quarters,  Camp,       > 
Valley  Forge,  May  5th,  1778.  $ 

It  having  pleased  the  Almighty  Ruler  of  the  Uni 
verse  propitiously  to  defend  the  cause  of  the  United 
American  States,  and  finally,  by  raising  us  up  a  pow 
erful  friend  among  the  Princes  of  the  Earth,  to  estab 
lish  our  liberty  and  independence  on  a  lasting  foun 
dation  ;  it  becomes  us  to  set  apart  a  day  for  gratefully 
acknowledging  the  Divine  goodness,  and  celebrating 
the  important  event  which  we  owe  to  His  benign 
interposition. 

The  several  brigades  are  to  be  assembled  for  this 
purpose  at  nine  o'clock  to-morrow  morning,  when 
their  Chaplains  will  communicate  the  intelligence 
contained  in  the  Postcript  to  the  Pennsylvania  Ga 
zette  of  the  second  instant,  and  offer  up  a  Thanks 
giving,  and  deliver  a  discourse  suitable  to  the  occa 
sion. 

At  half  past  ten  o'clock  a  cannon  will  be  fired, 
which  is  to  be  a  signal  for  the  men  to  be  under  arms. 
The  Brigade  Inspectors  will  then  inspect  their  dress 
and  arms,  form  the  battalions  according  to  the  instruc 
tions  given  them,  and  announce  to  the  cammanding 
officers  of   brigades  that  the  battalions  are  formed. 
The  Brigadiers  and  Commandants  will  then  appoint 
the  field  officers  to  command  the  battalions ;  after 
which,    each  battalion  will  be  ordered  to  load  and 
ground  their  arms. — At  half  past  eleven,    another 
cannon  will  be  fired  as  a  signal  for  the  march ;  on 
which  the  several  brigades  will  begin  their  march  by 
wheeling  to  the  right  by  platoons,  and  proceed  by 
the  nearest  way  to  the  left  of  their  ground,  in  the 
new  position  that  will  be  pointed  out  by  the  Brigade 
Inspectors. — A  third  signal  will  be  given,  on  which 
there  will  be  a  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon :  when 
the  thirteenth  has  fired,  a  running  fire  of  the  infantry 
will  begin  on  the  right  of  Woodford's,  and  continue 
throughout   the  whole  front  line;    it   will  then  be 
taken  up  on  the  left  of  the  second  line,  and  continue 


152  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

to  the  right — on  a  signal  given,  the  whole  army  will 
huzza — Long  live  the  King  of  France  ! 

The  artillery  will  then  begin  again,  and  fire  thir 
teen  rounds.  This  will  be  succeeded  by  a  second 
general  discharge  of  the  musketry  in  a  running  fire 
— Huzza!  long  live  the  Friendly  European 
Powers!  Then  the  last  discharge  of  thirteen 
pieces  of  artillery  will  be  given,  followed  by  a 
general  running  fire — Huzza  for  the  American 
States  ! 

Agreeably  to  the  above  orders,  His  Excellency 
General  Washington,  his  lady  and  suit,  Lord  Stir 
ling,  the  Countess  of  Stirling,  with  other  general 
officers  and  ladies,  attended  at  nine  o'clock  at  the 
Jersey  brigade,  when  the  Postcript  mentioned  above, 
was  read,  and  after  prayer  a  suitable  discourse  deliv 
ered  to  Lord  Stirling's  division  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hunter. 

On  the  signal  at  half  after  eleven,  the  whole  army 
repaired  to  their  alarm  posts ;  on  which  General 
Washington,  accompanied  by  the  general  officers,  re 
viewed  the  whole  army  at  their  respective  posts ; 
and  after  the  firing  of  the  cannon  and  musketry,  and 
the  huzzas  were  given  agreeably  to  the  orders,  the 
army  returned  to  their  respective  brigade  parades, 
and  were  dismissed. 

All  the  officers  of  the  army  then  assembled,  and 
partook  of  a  collation  provided  by  the  General,  at 
which  several  patriotic  toasts  were  given,  accompa 
nied  with  three  cheers.  His  Excellency  took  leave 
of  the  officers  at  five  o'clock,  on  which  there  was 
universal  huzzaing — Long  live  General  Washing 
ton  !  and  clapping  of  hands  till  the  General  rode 
some  distance.  The  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  followed  the  example  of  their  officers  as  the 
General  passed  their  brigades.  Approbation  indeed 
was  conspicuous  in  every  countenance,  and  universal 
joy  reigned  throughout  the  camp. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  153 

My  friend,  Major  Minnis,  from  Head  Quarters  at 
Valley  Forge,  has  detailed  to  me  the  particular  cir 
cumstances  of  the  distress  and  privations,  which  our 
army  suffered,  while  in  winter  quarters  at  that  place, 
the  last  winter.     In  the  month  of   December,  the 
troops  were  employed  in  erecting  log  huts  for  winter 
quarters,  when  about  one  half  of  the  men  were  des 
titute  of  small  clothes,  shoes,  and  stockings ;    some 
thousands  were  without  blankets,  and  were  obliged 
to   warm   themselves  over  fires  all   night,  after  the 
fatigues  of  the  day,  instead  of  reposing  in  comforta 
ble  lodgings.     At  one  time  nearly  three  thousand 
men  were  returned  unfit  for  duty,  from  the  want  of 
clothing,  and  it  was  not  uncommon  to  track  the  march 
of  the  men  over  ice  and  frozen  ground,  by  the  blood 
from  their  naked  feet.      Several  times  during  the 
winter,  they  experienced  little  less  than  a  famine  in 
camp ;  and  more  than  once  our  general  officers  were 
alarmed  by  the  fear  of  a  total  dissolution  of  the  army 
from   the    want   of   provisions.     For   two  or  three 
weeks  in  succession,  the  men  were  on  half  allowance, 
and  for  four  or  five  days  without  bread,  and  again 
as  many  without  beef  or  pork.     It  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  men  enough  could  be  found  in  a  con 
dition  fit  to  discharge  the  military  camp  duties  from 
day  to  day,  and  for  this  purpose  those  who  were 
naked,  borrowed  from  those  who  had  clothes.     It 
cannot  be  deemed  strange,  that  sickness  and  mortality 
were  the   consequence   of   such    privations,  in  the 
midst  of  an  inclement  season.     Under  these  unexam 
pled  sufferings,  the  soldiers  exercised  a  degree  of 
patience  and  fortitude,  which  reflects  on  them  the 
highest  honor,  and  which  ought  ever  to  entitle  them 
to  the  gratitude  of  their  country.     The  army  indeed 
was  not  without  consolation,  for  his  Excellency  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  whom  every  soldier  venerates 
and  loves,  manifested  a  fatherly  concern  and  fellow 
feeling  for  their  sufferings,  and  made  every  exertion 
in  his  power  to  remedy  the  evil,  and  to  administer 
20 


154  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

the  much  desired  relief.  Being  authorized  hy  Con 
gress,  he  reluctantly  resorted  to  the  unpopular  expe 
dient  of  taking  provisions  from  the  inhabitants  by 
force,  and  thus  procured  a  small  supply  for  immedi 
ate  necessity.*  This  was  the  unhappy  condition  of 
that  army,  on  whom  General  Washington  had  to  rely 
for  the  defence  of  every  thing  held  most  dear  by 
Americans,  and  this  too,  while  situated  within  six 
teen  miles  of  a  powerful  adversary,  with  a  greatly 
superior  army  of  veterans,  watching  with  a  ygilant 
eye  for  an  opportunity  to  effect  its  destruction)/  But 
a  fact  which  excites  the  greatest  indignation  and 
astonishment,  is,  that  at  the'  critical  period  above 
mentioned,  a  party  in  Congress,  in  concert  with  Gen 
eral  Conway,  was  endeavoring  to  remove  General 
Washington  from  the  supreme  command.  If  the 
American  army  is  to  be  annihilated,  and  the  cause 
of  our  country  sacrificed  to  gratify  individual  ambi 
tion,  then  is  there  a  faction  ripe  for  the  execution  of 
the  object.  No  man,  perhaps,  ever  had  a  greater 
combination  of  vexatious  evils,  and  uncontrollable 
obstacles  to  encounter,  than  this  incomparable  patriot 
and  warrior ;  and  no  one  surely  ever  possessed  in  a 
more  eminent  degree,  the  peculiar  talents  and  quali 
ties,  requisite  for  the  discharge  of  the  important 
duties  assigned  him  in  his  elevated  station.  He  has 
acquired  the  full  confidence  of  every  faithful  officer 
and  soldier  under  his  command,  and  his  wisdom  and 
judgment  are  considered  adequate  to  the  most  try 
ing  exigences.  He  rises  in  the  midst  of  distress, 
and  gains  strength  by  misfortunes.  The  Assembly  of 

*It  was  on  this  occasion  that  a  foreign  officer  of  distinction,  said  to 
a  friend  of  mine,  that  he  despaired  of  our  Independence,  for  while 
walking  with  General  Washington,  along  the  soldiers'  huts,  he  heard 
from  many  voices  echoing  through  the  open  crevices  between  the  logs, 
"no  pay,  no  clothes,  no  provisions,  no  rww,"  and  when  a  miserable  be 
ing  was  seen  flitting  from  one  hut  to  another,  his  nakedness  was  only 
covered  by  a  dirty  blanket.  It  will  be  difficult  to  form  a  just  concep 
tion  of  the  emotions  of  grief  and  sorrow  which  must  have  harrowed  up 
the  soul  of  our  illustrious  patriot  and  philanthropist.  In  this  darkening 
hour  of  adversity,  any  man  who  possesses  less  firmness  than  Washington, 
would  despair  of  our  Independence. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  155 

Pennsylvania,  and  a  certain  party  in  our  Congress, 
entertain  an  idea  that  the  royal  army  was  permitted 
to  take  possession  of  Philadelphia  by  the  timidity, 
or  by  the  excessive  caution  of  our  Commander  in 
Chief.  It  is  well  known,  that  from  necessity  he  has 
evinced  himself  more  the  disciple  of  Fabius  Maximus, 
than  of  Marcellus.  He  temporizes,  and  acts  on  the 
defensive,  when  a  superior  force,  and  the  peculiar 
circumstances  of  his  army  compel  him  to  adopt  such 
conduct.  But  no  one  will  deny  that  he  has  display 
ed  the  greatest  courage  in  opposing  danger,  and  the 
greatest  presence  of  mind  in  retreating  from  it.  He 
has  perplexed  the  enemy  by  his  judicious  mano3u- 
vres,  and  braved  him  frequently  in  his  camp  ;  and  it 
is  by  his  superior  generalship,  and  the  unfailing  re 
sources  of  his  mind,  that  the  enemy  was  not  sooner 
in  possession  of  Philadelphia,  and  that  our  feeble, 
half  starved,  naked  army,  has  not  been  entirely  de 
stroyed.  The  candidates  who  have  been  named  to 
supersede  his  Excellency  in  the  supreme  command, 
are  Generals  Lee,  Mifflin,  Gates  and  Conway.  Lee 
has  many  advocates  in  his  favor.  Mifflin  has  no 
claim,  and  it  is  believed  no  desire,  to  be  elevated 
to  this  highly  responsible  station.  The  splendid 
achievement  of  General  Gates  at  Saratoga  is  auspi 
cious  to  his  preferment,  but  even  the  officers  and 
soldiers  who  served  under  him  in  the  northern  army, 
would  not  willingly  yield  their  attachment  to  their 
beloved  Washington,  in  whose  wisdom  and  judgment 
they  repose  such  unbounded  confidence.  It  is  most 
unfortunate  that  Congress  appears  to  be  split  into 
factions  at  this  eventful  period,  when  the  salvation  of 
our  country  depends  on  the  harmony  and  unanimity 
in  our  councils.  A  strong  party  exists  in  this  body, 
who  are  exerting  every  nerve  to  effect  their  favorite 
scheme  of  elevating  General  Gates  to  the  supreme 
command.  This  gentleman  is  made  the  object  of 
their  applause,  and  caresses,  though  he  has  been  de 
ficient  in  duty  and  respect  in  his  official  station,  in 


156  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

not  communicating  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  the 
important  intelligence  of  the  capture  of  General  Bur- 
goyne  and  his  army.  General  Conway,  a  French 
gentleman,  has  been  appointed  by  Congress,  Inspector 
General,  with  the  rank  of  Major  General,  over  a 
number  of  brigadiers  of  regular  standing,  and  this, 
even  when  it  was  notorious,  that  he  was  inimical  to 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  the  author  of  letters 
in  which  his  Excellency's  character  is  basely  aspers 
ed  and  calumniated.  These  unhappy  dissensions 
and  jealousies,  occasion  the  greatest  solicitude  in  our 
army,  and  consequences  of  a  fatal  tendency  are  seri 
ously  apprehended.  The  brigadiers  and  a  number 
of  colonels  have  remonstrated  in  strong  terms  to  Con 
gress  respecting  the  preferment  of  General  Conway. 
The  machinations  of  this  insolent  foreigner  have  at 
length  recoiled  on  his  own  head.  Having  by  his  vile 
intrigue,  and  insufferable  effrontery,  rendered  himself 
an  object  of  disgust  in  his  station,  he  has  been  induc 
ed  to  resign  his  commission,  and  has  withdrawn  him 
self  from  the  army.*  On  this  serious  occasion,  the 
character  of  Washington  was  found  unassailable  and 
it  shines  with  redoubled  lustre.  His  Excellency 
displays  a  noble  magnanimity  in  overlooking  a  w<ant 
of  confidence  in  his  skill  and  judgment  in  his  pro 
fession.  Envy  and  malice  are  ever  attendant  on  ex 
alted  station  and  superior  merit. 

May  IGth.— In  various  parts  of  this  state  the  in 
habitants  are  constantly  infested  with  a  banditti  of 
tories  and  other  villains,  following  the  practice  of 
robbing  and  plundering,  stealing  horses  and  cattle, 
and  often  committing  murder  on  those  who  oppose 
them  ;  and  even  on  innocent  persons.  A  number  of 

*  General  Conway,  after  his  resignation,  was  challenged  by  General 
Cadwallader,  for  his  conduct,  and  in  the  combat  he  received  a  wound 
which  he  supposed  to  be  a  mortal  one,  and  conceiving  death  to  be 
near  at  hand,  he  conducted  honorably  in  addressing  to  General  Wash 
ington  a  letter  of  apology.  Further  particulars  relative  to  this  unpleas 
ant  business  may  be  found  in  the  characters  of  Lee,  Gates  and  Con- 
way,  in  the  Appendix. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778.  157 

these  vile  wretches  have  been  apprehended  and 
condemned  ;  two  of  them  were  executed  yester 
day.  They  had  been  convicted  of  robbing  the  house 
of  Mr.  Van  Ness,  whose  son,  being  a  captain  in 
our  militia,  was  taken  by  them  and  cruelly  murder 
ed.  The  criminals  were  conducted  to  the  gallows 
by  a  guard  of  soldiers,  and  were  attended  by  a 
prodigious  number  of  spectators.  They  manifested, 
at  the  gallows,  the  most  agonizing  horrors.  One  of 
them  held  in  his  hand  a  bible  till  the  halter  depriv 
ed  him  of  the  power  of  holding  it.  Had  this  sacred 
volume  been  his  companion  in  early  life,  it  might 
have  been  the  means  of  averting  this  awful  and  un- 
tmiely  death. 

20th. — I  attended  the  judicial  court  at  the  City 
Hall  for  the  trial  of  a  number  of  criminals  accused 
of  house  robbery,  horse  stealing,  and  murder,  among 
the  defenceless  inhabitants  on  our  frontiers.  No  less 
than  ten  of  these  miscreants  were  arrainged  at  the 
bar.  The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty  against 
the  whole  number.  Judge  John  Jay,  who  officiated 
on  the  bench,  pronounced  the  awful  sentence  of  death, 
and  addressed  them  in  a  very  solemn  and  affecting 
manner,  calculated  to  rouse  them  to  a  sense  of  their 
dreadful  condition,  and  in  a  moving  and  pathetic 
strain,  enjoined  it  on  them  to  prepare  to  meet  their 
God.  This  scene  was  rendered  the  more  melan 
choly,  by  observing  among  the  criminals  a  grey  head 
ed  man  of  seventy  years,  and'his  son  about  twenty. 
The  criminality  of  the  son  admits  of  some  extenua 
tion  from  his  ignorance  and  the  example  of  his  father. 
The  youth  was  afterwards  pardoned ;  but  the  old 
man,  with  several  others,  expiated  their  crimes  by  a 
public  execution  on  the  gallows. 

In  the  town  of  Schoharie,  about  thirty  miles  from 
this  city,  a  company  of  our  troops,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  Patrick,  has  been  for  some  time 
stationed  for  the  purpose  of  guarding  the  inhabitants 
against  the  incursions  and  cruel  ravages  of  the  In- 


158  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

dians  and  tories.  We  have  just  received  the  melan 
choly  intelligence,  that  about  two  hundred  Indians 
and  their  tory  allies,  fell  on  our  party  by  surprize, 
killed  the  captain  and  all  but  fifteen  men,  and  most 
of  the  inhabitants  shared  the  same  miserable  fate. 
The  bodies  were  cut  and  mangled  in  a  savage  man 
ner,  and  some  of  them  were  scalped. 

June  1st. — Orders  have  been  received  for  the  re 
moval  of  our  hospital  from  this  city  to  the  high  lands,  on 
the  Hudson  river,  where  our  whole  army,  it  is  said, 
is  about  to  assemble.  During  my  residence  in  this 
city  I  have  contracted  but  a  limited  acquaintance 
with  the  inhabitants.  They  are  chiefly  Low  Dutch, 
and  not  much  inclined  to  associate  with  strangers. 
There  are  however,  several  families  of  respectability 
and  fashion,  who  have  taken  refuge  here  from  New 
York,  among  whom  are  some  amiable  and  accom 
plished  ladies,  in  whose  society  I  have  been  permitted 
to  enjoy  a  social  intercourse.  The  charming  Miss 
M.  H.  has  captivated  the  heart,  and  is  destined  to 
receive  the  hand  of  my  excellent  friend  Dr.  W.  P.  S. 
an  auspicious  union  of  congenial  souls.  But  in  mili 
tary  life  our  associates  must  be  chiefly  those  of  a 
military  character.  In  a  society  of  about  thirty  pro 
fessional  gentlemen,  harmonizing  in  similar  pursuits 
and  inclinations,  our  sympathies  and  mutual  pleasures 
are  mingled,  and  raised  to  a  state  of  the  purest  en 
joyment.  We  are  now  to  be  separated  and  subject 
ed  to  vicissitudes  and  incidents  beyond  our  calcula 
tion.  Three  of  our  number  are  to  continue  with 
the  sick  in  this  place,  and  the  remainder  are  destined 
to  a  new  situation. 

5th. — We  embarked  with  our  hospital  stores  and 
baggage  on  board  of  a  sloop,  and  proceeded  with  a 
fair  wind  down  the  Hudson.  In  the  evening  we 
landed  at  Kinderhook,  a  small  town  on  the  bank  of 
the  river. 

7th. — Arrived  at  Fishkill  where  we  replenished 
our  stock  of  provisions. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778.  159 

Wth. — Proceeded  on  our  voyage,  took  in  a  pilot 
at  New  Windsor,  lodged  on  board,  and  on  the  llth, 
reached  the  place  of  our  destination,  landed  our 
stores  and  baggage,  and  took  possession  of  the  house 
which  we  are  to  occupy  for  a  hospital.  This  house 
was  erected  by  Colonel  Beverly  Robinson,  a  respecta 
ble  gentleman  from  Scotland,  for  his  summer  resi 
dence,  but  being  induced  to  adhere  to  the  British 
interest,  he  has,  with  his  excellent  family,  removed  to 
New  York,  and  thereby  forfeited  his  large  estate. 
This  is  a  spacious  and  very  convenient  building,  situ 
ated  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Hudson,  about  two 
miles  from  West  Point,  which  is  on  the  opposite 
shore.  Robinson's  house,  with  the  out  buildings,  is 
found  very  convenient  for  a  hospital ;  the  farm  and 
gardens  are  very  extensive,  affording  excellent  pas 
turing  for  horses  and  cows,  and  containing  three  or 
four  large  orchards  abounding  in  fruit  of  various  de 
scriptions.  In  the  location  of  a  country  seat,  the 
judgment  of  Colonel  Robinson  is  not  much  to  be 
admired,  unless  he  was  guided  altogether  by  a  taste 
for  romantic  singularity  and  novelty.  It  is  surround 
ed  on  two  sides  by  hideous  mountains  and  dreary 
forests,  not  a  house  in  view,  and  but  one  within  a 
mile.  The  Hudson,  which  washes  the  borders  of  this 
farm,  affords  a  facility  of  communication  with  New 
York  and  with  Albany ;  and  the  excursion  up  or 
down  the  river  is  truly  romantic  ;  nature  exhibits  a 
diversified  scenery  of  wild  mountains,  craggy  pre 
cipices,  and  noble  lofty  cliffs,  on  each  side  the  river, 
which  at  this  place  is  about  one  mile  wide.  The 
bank  on  the  west  side  is  formed  by  a  large  mountain 
called  Butterhill,  and  that  on  the  east  by  another  named 
Brecknock.  At  a  small  distance  south  of  Robinson's 
is  a  remarkable  bluff,  whose  rocky  cliffs  ascend  almost 
perpendicularly  from  the  water's  edge  to  the  height 
of  about  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  feet.  This,  from 
its  singular  form  and  appearance,  is  known  by  the 
name  of  Anthony's  Nose.  Not  far  from  Robinson's 


160  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

house  is  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain,  covered  with  various 
kinds  of  forest  trees. 

12th. — A  little  party,  consisting  of  three  gentle 
men  of  the  hospital  and  myself,  resolved  on  the 
attempt  to  ascend  to  the  summit  of  Sugar  Loaf  Moun 
tain,  which  from  its  rude  acclivity  is  deemed  almost 
inaccessible.  It  was  with  great  difficulty  and  fatigue 
that  we  effected  our  purpose,  holding  by  the  limbs  and 
bushes,  while  the  decayed  wood  and  loose  stones 
sliding  from  under  our  feet,  kept  us  in  continual  fear 
of  a  fatal  fall.  Having  reached  the  summit,  we 
contemplated  with  amazement  the  sublime  scene 
which  opened  to  our  view.  Looking  down  as  from 
a  cloud,  we  beheld  the  Hudson,  resembling  a  vast 
canal  cut  through  mountains  of  stupendous  magni 
tude,  a  few  boats  playing  on  its  surface,  were  scarcely 
visible.  But  to  the  pen  of  the  poet,  and  the  pencil 
of  the  painter,  be  consigned  the  task  of  describing 
the  wonders  of  nature  there  exhibited,  in  the  form 
of  huge  mountains,  rocky  cliffs,  and  venerable  forests 
in  one  confused  mass.  From  this  summit  too,  we 
have  a  most  interesting  view  of  the  fortress  and 
garrison  of  West  Point.  Fort  Putnam,  on  its  most 
elevated  part,  the  several  redoubts  beneath,  and  the 
barracks  on  the  plain  below,  with  numerous  armed 
soldiers  in  active  motion,  all  defended  by  the  most 
formidable  machinery  of  war,  combine  to  form  a 
picturesque  scenery  of  peculiar  interest,  which  can 
be  heightened  only  when  from  the  cannon's  mouth 
issue  fire  and  smoke,  and  the  earth  trembles  with 
its  roar  and  thunder.  While  musing  on  the  rich 
scenery,  we  observed  a  number  of  large  rocks,  which 
seemed  to  have  but  a  slender  hold  at  their  basis,  we 
conceived  that  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  undermine 
and  precipitate  them  down  the  steep  precipice. 
Having  a  consultation  to  decide  on  the  most  eligible 
mode  of  effecting  our  purpose,  we  resolutely  com 
menced  the  laborious  enterprize ;  destitute  of  every 
kind  of  utensil,  we  procured  each  one  a  limb  of  a  sap- 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778.  161 

ling,  with  which  we  burrowed  away  the  earth,  and 
soon  perceived  the  happy  effects  of  our  industry ; 
the  rock  began  to  totter.  Among  other  curiosities 
we  viewed  the  path  made  by  the  descent  of  Putnam's 
rock.  Colonel  Rufus  Putnam  ascended  this  moun 
tain  with  forty  men,  who  were,  for  amusement,  em 
ployed  about  two  days,  in  precipitating  from  its  sum 
mit  a  rock  of  many  tons  weight  into  the  river.  Such 
was  the  force  of  this  ponderous  body,  that  in  its  pas 
sage  it  cut  down  trees  of  a  large  size,  and  nothing 
could  impede  its  course  till  it  fell  with  a  tremendous 
crash  into  the  river.  The  rock  was  of  such  size, 
that  a  part  of  it  remained  above  water,  and  Colonel 
Putnam  standing  on  its  top,  holding  in  his  hand  a 
bottle  of  spirits,  gave  to  it  the  name  of  Putnam's 
rock. 

July  2d. — By  Dr.  Brown,  Surgeon  General,  just 
arrived  from  Philadelphia,  we  are  favored  with  the 
intelligence  that  commissioners  have  arrived  from 
the  British  government  with  new  proposals  for  the 
purpos^  of  a  reconciliation  between  the  two  countries. 
It  appears  that  in  consequence  of  the  capture  of 
GTeneral  Burgoyne  and  his  army,  the  Parliament  had 
manifested  great  mortification  and  alarm,  and  have 
been  induced  to  pass  some  acts,  with  a  view  of  recon 
ciliation,  more  consistent  with  the  just  claims  of 
America  than  those  formerly  declared.  The  royal 
commissioners  have  presented  to  our  Congress  their 
proposals  for  a  mutual  adjustment  of  existing  diffi 
culties,  couched  in  such  plausible,  and  apparently 
conciliatory  language,  as  to  excite  serious  apprehen 
sions  that  it  may  occasion  considerable  disaffection 
among  the  people,  if  not  division  in  our  public 
councils.  Fears  are  entertained  by  many,  in  and 
out  of  Congress,  that  the  expedient  now  adopted  by 
Parliament  may  be  productive  of  the  consequences 
which  the  authors  probably  intended,  that  of  relaxa 
tion  and  delay  in  our  military  preparations.  There 
is  however,  a  very  important  and  radical  defect  in 
21 


162  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

the  terms  proposed  by  the  commissioners,  they  are 
not  authorized  to  treat  with  Congress  on  the  princi 
ples  of  Independency,  but  still  adhere  to  the  idea 
of  a  reunion  of  the  States,  as  colonies,  under  the 
government  of  Great  Britain.  Firm  in  their  de 
termination,  never  to  relinquish  this  fundamental 
principle,  the  Congress  unanimously  rejected  the 
proffered  conditions,  and  it  is  morally  certain  that 
no  terms  short  of  an  explicit  acknowledgment  of  our 
Independence,  will  ever  be  accepted.  A  very  ani 
mated  address  has  been  published  by  Congress  to 
their  constituents  respecting  the  terms  proposed  by 
the  commissioners,  in  which  they  observe,  that  "  the 
haughty  Prince  who  spurned  us  from  his  feet  with 
contumely  and  disdain,  and  the  Parliament  who  pro 
scribed  us,  now  descend  to  offer  terms  of  accommoda 
tion.  Whilst  in  the  full  career  of  victory,  they 
pulled  off  the  mask  and  avowed  despotism.  But 
having  lavished  in  vain  the  blood  and  treasure  of 
their  subjects,  in  pursuit  of  this  execrable  purpose, 
they  now  endeavor  to  ensnare  us  with  the  insidious 
offers  of  peace.  They  would  seduce  us  into  a  de- 
pendance  which  necessarily  and  inevitably  leads  to 
the  most  humiliating  slavery.  And  do  they  believe 
you  will  accept  these  fatal  terms  because  you  have, 
suffered  the  distresses  of  war?  Do  they  suppose 
that  you  will  basely  lick  the  dust  before  the  feet  of 
your  destroyers  ?  Can  there  be  a  man  so  lost  to  the 
feelings  that  adorn  human  nature,  to  the  generous 
pride,  the  elevation,  the  dignity  of  freedom  ?  Is 
there  a  man  who  would  not  abhor  a  dependance  on 
those,  who  have  deluged  his  country  in  the  blood  of 
its  inhabitants?  We  cannot  suppose  this,  neither 
can  we  suppose  that  they  themselves  expect  to  make 
many  converts.  What  then  is  their  intention  ?  Is  it 
not  to  lull  you  with  the  fallacious  hopes  of  peace,  till 
they  can  assemble  new  armies  to  prosecute  their  nefa 
rious  designs  ?  If  this  is  not  the  case,  why  do  they 
meanly  court  each  little  tyrant  of  Europe  to  sell  them 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  163 

his  unhappy  slaves  ?  Why  do  they  continue  to  em 
bitter  the  minds  of  the  savages  against  you  ?  Surely 
this  is  not  the  way  to  conciliate  the  affections  of 
America.  Be  not  deceived."  The  address  then 
proceeds  to  encourage  the  people  with  the  fairest 
prospect  of  success  in  the  full  establishment  of  their 
liberty  and  independence.  The  most  powerful  in 
centives  to  perseverance  and  exertion  are  held  forth 
as  the  means  of  vanquishing  the  foes  of  our  country. 
"  Above  all  bring  forward  your  armies  into  the  field. 
Trust  not  to  appearances  of  peace  or  safety.  Be 
assvired  that  unless  you  persevere  you  will  be  exposed 
to  every  species  of  barbarity ;  but  if  you  exert  the 
means  of  defence  which  God  and  nature  have  given 
you,  the  time  will  soon  arrive  when  every  man  shall 
sit  under  his  own  vine,  and  under  his  own  fig  tree, 
and  there  shall  be  none  to  make  him  afraid." 

3d. — A  great  degree  of  dissatisfaction  has  pre 
vailed  tor  some  time  among  the  officers  of  our  army. 
At  the  I'omniencement  of  the  war,  a  considerable  pro 
portion  of  our  officers  it  is  presumed,  engaged  in  the 
service  from  the  purest  motives  of  patriotism ;  some 
doubtless  were  actuated  by  pecuniary  views,  or  in 
fluenced  by  the  novelty  of  the  employment,  and  with 
the  expectation  that  the  contest  would  be  of  short 
continuance.  These  incentives  appear  in  a  great 
measure  to  have  vanished.  The  active  spirit  of 
patriotism  is  not  to  be  considered  as  inexhaustible ; 
when  it  has  made  the  most  liberal  personal  sacri 
fice,  it  is  disposed  to  languish  and  to  resign  its 
duties  to  others  who  hold  an  equal  stake  in  the  pub 
lic  weal.  The  military  commission,  which  in  other 
armies  is  eagerly  sought  for,  and  prized,  as  entitling 
the  bearer  to  the  post  of  honor  and  profit,  is  in  ours, 
held  in  little  estimation,  and  in  some  instances  it  is 
scarcely  considered  as  reputable.  The  paper  money 
in  which  our  army  is  paid,  has  greatly  depreciated, 
and  an  officer  can  with  difficulty  realize  an  adequate 
support  while  in  camp,  and  those  who  have  families 


164  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

dependant  on  them,  are  reduced  to  the  greatest  em 
barrassments.     Many  officers,    when   commissioned, 
relinquished  lucrative   professions,  or  employments, 
and  are  devoting  the  most  precious  portion  of  life  to 
the  service  of  their  country.     When  we  contemplate 
the  destitute  condition  which  may  be  his  lot  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  or  the  wretched  circumstances  in 
which  he  may  be  called  to  leave  his  family  in  case 
he  should  not  survive  this  period,  no  one  can  be  sur 
prised  that  he  is  dissatisfied  in  his  present  situation, 
and  that  he  claims  from  the  public  a  more  ample 
remuneration.    These  considerations,  will  account  for 
the  numerous  resignations  which  have  taken  place, 
and  which  has  occasioned  the  Commander  in  Chief 
much  anxiety  and  concern.     Apprehending  that  he 
should  be  deprived  of  the  services  of  many  meritori 
ous   officers,    his   Excellency   General   Washington, 
made  a  feeling  representation  to  Congrecs  relative  to 
the  subject.     A  committee  of  that  honorable  body 
has  been  appointed  to  confer  with  the  general,  and 
in  concert  with  him,  to  make  and  recommend  such 
new   arrangements  as  should  appear  eligible.     His 
Excellency  strongly  recommended  a  half  pay  establish 
ment,  which  he  conceived  was  indispensably  neces 
sary,  to  induce  the  officers  to  continue  in  the  service, 
and  cheerfully  discharge  their  respective  duties,  as 
many  have  already  resigned,  and  application  for  it,  is 
frequently  made  by  others.     Besides  adopting  some 
method  to  make  the  provision  to  officers   equal  to 
their  present  exigencies,  a  due  regard  should  be  paid 
to  futurity.     "  Nothing,  in  my  opinion,"  says  his 
Excellency,  "  would  serve  more  powerfully  to  re 
animate  their  languishing  zeal,   and  interest   them 
thoroughly  in  the  service  than  a  half  pay  establish 
ment."      This  conference  and   representation   pro 
duced  the  desired  effect.     Congress  being  convinced 
of  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  making  further  pro 
vision  for  the   encouragement  of  their  army,    Re 
solved  unanimously,  that  all  military  officers,  com- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  165 

missioned  by  Congress,  who  now  are,  or  hereafter  may 
be,  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  shall  con 
tinue  therein  during  the  war,  shall  after  the  conclu 
sion  of  it,  be  entitled  to  receive  annually  for  the  term 
of  seven  years,  if  they  live  so  long,  one  half  of  the 
present  pay  of  such  officers.  They  further  resolved 
unanimously,  that  every  non-commissioned  military 
officer,  or  soldier,  who  has  enlisted  or  shall  enlist  in 
the  service  of  these  States  during  the  war,  and  shall 
continue  therein  to  the  end  thereof,  shall  be  entitled 
to  receive  a  further  reward  of  eighty  dollars  at  the 
expiration  of  the  war. 

4th. — Intelligence  has  reached  us  that  the  royal 
army,  under  the  command  of  General  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  has  evacuated  Philadelphia,  and  while  march 
ing  through  Jersey  to  New  York,  General  Washing 
ton  attacked  them  near  Monmouth  court  house,  on 
the  28th  of  June,  and  a  warm  engagement  ensued. 
This  contest  was  conducted  with  military  ardor  and 
spirit  on  the  side  of  both  armies  ;  but  was  not  on  so 
broad  a  scale  as  to  prove  very  decisive  in  its  con 
sequences.  Each  side,  it  is  said,  claims  the  victory ; 
but  allowing  the  honor  to  be  equally  divided,  the 
enemy  is  incomparably  the  greatest  sufferer.  If  re 
ports  are  accurate,  the  loss  of  the  royalists  consists  of 
four  officers,  and  two  hundred  and  forty  five  rank 
and  file  killed,  and  left  in  the  field  buried  by  our 
people ;  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  five 
wounded;  one  hundred  and  seventeen  prisoners ;  and 
one  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy  two  deserted 
during  the  march  ;  total  of  their  loss,  after  they  left 
Philadelphia,  according  to  accounts  circulated,  three 
thousand  one  hundred  and  eighty  nine.  Of  the  con 
tinentals,  according  to  returns,  sixty  nine  were  killed, 
one  hundred  and  forty  two  wounded,  and  about  one 
hundred  missing.  The  intense  heat  of  the  weather, 
great  fatigue,  and  drinking  cold  water,  proved  fatal 
to  about  sixty  or  eighty  men  of  each  party.  General 
Washington  commanded  in  person  on  this  memorable 


166  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

day.  He  was  exposed  to  every  danger  while  en 
couraging  and  animating  his  troops,  and  his  presence 
and  example  were  of  the  utmost  importance  during 
the  day.  After  the  action,  at  night,  he  laid  down 
in  his  cloak  under  a  tree,  with  the  expectation  of 
recommencing  the  battle  in  the  morning,  but  the 
royal  army  silently  retreated  during  the  night  with 
out  being  pursued. 

One  unfortunate  circumstance  occurred  on  this 
occasion,  which  created  considerable  embarrassment, 
and  deranged  the  plan  of  operations.  Major  General 
Lee,  was  ordered  by  the  Commander  in  Chief,  to 
advance  and  attack  the  enemy's  rear,  so  soon  as  a 
proper  opportunity  should  offer.  Having  approached 
very  near,  instead  of  engaging,  he  suffered  his  troops 
to  retreat  in  some  confusion.  On  learning  this,  his 
Excellency  was  exceedingly  mortified  and  astonished ; 
coming  up  to  General  Lee,  and  meeting  part  of  his 
corps  in  their  flight,  he  with  some  warmth  inquired 
the  cause  of  his  retreat,  and  addressed  General  Lee, 
in  language  which  implied  censure.  The  high  spirited 
Lee  could  not  brook  the  slightest  appearance  of  dis 
approbation,  and  replied  with  an  air  of  disrespect. 
He  however,  requested  of  his  Excellency  fresh  orders 
for  the  conduct  of  his  corps,  and  these  he  promptly 
obeyed,  and  discovered  no  want  of  bravery  in  the 
field.  But,  unable  to  quell  the  rankling  of  a  turbu 
lent  temper,  he  addressed  after  the  battle,  two  letters 
to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  containing  improper  and 
disrespectful  expressions.  As  if  in  defiance  of  supe 
rior  authority,  he  demanded  a  trial  by  a  court  mar 
tial,  that  he  might  have  an  opportunity  of  vindicating 
his  conduct,  in  consequence  of  which  his  Excellency 
has  put  him  under  arrest  to  await  his  trial. 

5  th. — Congress  have  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
General  Washington  and  his  army,  for  their  brave 
conduct  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth. 

8th. — I  accompanied  Dr.  Woodruff  to  Fishkill 
village,  about  fourteen  miles.  Dined  at  the  hospital 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  167 

with  our  old  friends  Drs.  Adams  and  Eustis.  They 
are  pleasantly  situated  in  a  secure  retreat,  for  the 
accommodation  of  our  sick  and  wounded  soldiers. 

It  is  expected  the  French  government  will  lend 
us  their  assistance  and  co-operation  against  our  Eng 
lish  adversaries.  It  is  asserted  that  a  powerful 
French  fleet  will  soon  arrive  on  our  coast. 

16th. — His  Excellency  the  Commander  in  Chief 
visited  West  Point,  to  take  a  view  of  the  works  which 
are  constructing  there.  His  arrival  was  announced 
by  the  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon,  the  number  of 
the  United  States. 

20th. — Having  a  number  of  sheep  running  at  large 
in  the  woods  belonging  to  our  hospital,  and  being  in 
want  of  mutton,  I  was  induced  to  assist  the  slaughterers 
with  my  gun  against  these  harmless  animals.  In  pur 
suit  of  this  game,  I  devoted  most  of  the  day,  and  a 
single  sheep  only  was  the  reward  of  my  labor  and 
fatigue.  On  my  return,  I  was  accused  of  want  of 
skill  as  a  marksman,  and  Dr.  Prescott  challenged  me 
to  decide  our  superiority  by  firing  at  a  mark ;  the 
challenge  accepted,  we  placed  an  object  at  the  end 
of  our  garden.  After  the  third  fire,  we  were  checked 
by  an  unpleasant  incident  Several  horses  were 
grazing  in  a  field  directly  in  our  range,  and  one  of 
them,  a  valuable  animal,  received  a  ball  through  his 
body.  The  wound  on  examination  was  found  to  be 
fatal,  the  skill  of  the  surgeon  could  avail  nothing,  and 
to  add  to  our  chagrin,  we  were  informed  that  the 
animal  was  the  property  of  Brigadier  General  Glover, 
and  was  by  him  highly  prized.  We  soon  received  a 
billet  from  the  general,  and  on  waiting  on  him  at 
West  Point,  to  adjust  the  terms  of  settlement,  he 
demanded  the  cost  of  the  horse,  which  was  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  dollars.  Justice  and  honor  required 
that  we  should  promptly  comply  with  his  demand.  A 
soldier  who  had  the  charge  of  the  horses,  informed  us 
that  one  of  the  balls  struck  the  ground  within  a  yard 
of  his  feet ;  had  the  poor  fellow  been  the  victim,  the 


168  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

catastrophe  would  have  been  much  more  melancholy  : 
but  the  event  is  sufficiently  unfortunate  to  deter  us 
from  again  sporting  with  our  guns  at  random  shot. 

27th. — Colonel  Malcome,  from  West  Point,  with 
his  much  admired  lady,  and  several  other  officers, 
favored  us  with  their  company  to  dine  ;  we  treated 
our  polite  guests  with  all  the  civilities  and  all  the 
comforts  in  our  power,  and  the  cheering  glass  was 
not  removed  till  evening,  when  we  accompanied  them 
to  the  river  side,  and  finished  two  bottles  of  port  on 
board  their  barge. 

28th. — Agreeably  to  invitation,  the  gentlemen  of 
our  hospital  returned  the  visit  to  Colonel  Malcome, 
at  West  Point,  and  were  entertained  in  the  most 
genteel  manner. 

The  public  mind  is  now  in  a  state  of  excitement, 
occasioned  by  the  improper  proceedings  of  the  royal 
commissioners  for  restoring  peace.  They  have  made 
a  second  communication  to  Congress,  but  still  with 
out  any  intimation  of  a  recognition  of  the  Inde 
pendence  of  the  United  States  ;  but  address  them  on 
the  supposition,  that  the  people  of  America  are  still 
the  subjects  of  the  crown  of  Britain.  This  last  com 
munication  is  drafted  with  much  art  and  address, 
calculated  to  excite  jealousies  and  division  among  the 
people.  Not  content  with  their  public  declarations, 
and  proposals  addressed  to  Congress,  they  have 
actually  descended  to  the  dishonorable  act  of  in 
sidious  offers  to  corrupt  some  distinguished  indivi 
duals.  Governor  Johnstone,  one  of  the  commissioners, 
with  inexcusable  effrontery,  offered  a  bribe  to  Mr. 
Reed,  a  member  of  Congress.  In  an  interview  with 
Mrs.  Ferguson  at  Philadelphia,  whose  husband  is  a 
royalist,  he  desired  she  would  mention  to  Mr.  Reed, 
that  if  he  would  engage  his  interest  to  promote  the 
object  of  their  commission,  he  miq;ht  have  any  office 
in  the  colonies,  in  the  gift  of  his  Britannic  majesty, 
and  ten  thousand  pounds  in  hand.  Having  solicited 
an  interview  with  Mr..  Reed,  Mrs.  Ferguson  made 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778.  169 

her  communication.  Spurning  the  idea  of  being 
purchased,  he  replied,  "  that  he  was  not  worth  pur 
chasing,  but  such  as  he  was,  the  king  of  Great  Britain 
was  not  rich  enough  to  do  it."  Congress  declined 
all  further  intercourse  with  the  commissioners,  and 
terminated  their  attempts  at  negotiation,  unless  their 
royal  master  would  first  withdraw  his  fleets  and 
armies,  or  expressly  acknowledge  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States.  In  order  to  demonstrate  their 
most  pointed  indignation  against  such  daring  attempts 
to  corrupt  their  integrity,  they  resolved,  that  it  was 
incompatible  with  their  honor  to  hold  any  further 
intercourse  with  George  Johnstone,  Esquire,  more 
especially  to  negotiate  with  him  on  affairs  in  which 
the  cause  of  liberty  and  virtue  are  interested. 

We  are  just  informed  of  a  new  order  of  fanatics, 
who  have  recently  introduced  themselves  into  our 
country,  pretending  to  be  a  religious  sect ;  but  if 
reports  be  true,  they  are  a  disgrace  both  to  religion 
and  to  human  nature.  They  are  called  Shaking 
Quakers,  or  dancing  quakers,  though  they  have  no 
affinity  either  in  principle  or  character  to  the  estab 
lished  order  of  Quakers.  Their  leader  is  a  female  by 
the  name  of  Ann  Lee,  niece  of  General  Lee,  of  our 
army.  She  is  lately  from  England,  and  has  brought 
over  with  her  a  few  followers,  and  has  had  the  address 
to  seduce  several  individuals  of  our  country  to  her 
party.  She  is  known  by  the  appellation  of  Mother 
Ann,  and  pretends  to  have  received  a  revelation  from 
heaven.  The  method  which  they  practise  under 
the  idea  of  religious  worship,  is  so  obviously  impious, 
as  to  exceed  the  bounds  of  credibility  ;  but  we  have 
the  particulars  from  eye  witnesses,  who  have  beea 
admitted  to  their  midnight  orgies.  They  spend  whole 
nights  in  their  revels,  and  exhibit  the  most  unbecom 
ing  scenes,  violating  all  rules  of  propriety  and  decency. 
Both  sexes,  nearly  divested  of  clothing,  fall  to  dancing 
in  extravagant  postures,  and  frequently  whirl  them 
selves  round  on  one  leg  with  inconceivable  rapidity, 
22 


170  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778. 

till  they  fall  apparently  lifeless  on  the  floor.  A  spec 
tator  asserts,  that  the  fantastic  contortions  of  body  in 
which  their  pretended  religious  exercises  consist,  bear 
the  semblance  ;of  supernatural  impulse,  and  that  no 
imagination  can  form  an  adequate  idea  of  the  extra 
vagant  conduct  of  these  infatuated  people — a  bur 
lesque  on  all  moral  and  religious  principle.* 

Jlugust  3d. — I  am  now  to  notice  one  of  the  most 
dreadful  instances  of  perfidious  savage  cruelty  that 
can  perhaps  be  found  on  the  records  of  history. 
However  incredible  the  particulars  may  appear,  they 
are  found  in  various  publications,  and  received  as 
indubitable  facts.  Nor  would  I  tarnish  a  page  with 
the  diabolical  transaction,  till  the  detailed  account 
has  been  incontrovertibly  established.  At  a  place 
on  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Susquehannah  river,  was 
a  flourishing  settlement  called  Wyoming.  It  con 
sisted  of  eight  townships,  containing  one  thousand 
families ;  and  such  was  the  zeal  with  which  they 
espoused  the  cause  of  America,  that  they  voluntarily 
raised  about  one  thousand  soldiers  for  the  continen 
tal  army.  The  climate  and  soil  of  this  territory 
are  admirably  adapted  to  the  production  of  grain, 
hemp,  fruit  and  stock  of  all  kinds.  The  inhabitants 
of  this  secluded  spot,  might  have  lived  in  the  enjoy 
ment  of  all  the  happiness  which  results  from  harmony 
and  the  purest  natural  affection.  But  unfortunately 
they  suffered  themselves  to  be  divided  by  the  turbu 
lent  spirit  of  party,  distinguished  by  the  epithet  of 
whig  and  tory.  When  this  rancorous  spirit  was  per 
mitted  to  disclose  itself,  animosities  arose  to  such  an 
astonishing  height,  as  to  sever  the  tenderest  ties  of 
family  friendship,  and  the  dearest  connexions.  Many 
of  the  active  inhabitants,  influenced  by. malice  and 
revenge,  abandoned  their  plantations,  forsook  their 

*  The  sect  now  denominated  Shaking  Quakers,  are  an  orderly  and 
civil  people  ;  they  have  rendered  themselves  remarkable  for  industry 
and  ingenuity,  and  for  their  particular  attention  to  agriculture  and  the 
mechanic  arts. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778.  171 

neighbors  and  friends,  and  allied  themselves  with  the 
savages,  whom  they  instigated  and  assisted  in  the 
barbarous  work  of  slaughter  and  death  among  their 
friends.  The  inhabitants,  on  receiving  intelligence 
that  an  enterprize  was  preparing  against  them,  and 
sensible  of  their  perilous  situation,  threw  up  entrench 
ments  and  redoubts,  to  defend  themselves  against  the 
gathering  storm.  About  the  first  of  July  last,  the 
ferocious  enemy,  consisting  of  one  thousand  six  hun 
dred  tories,  Indians  and  half-blooded  Englishmen, 
approached  the  settlement,  and  were  perceived  lurk 
ing  about  their  borders.  This  motley  combination 
was  commanded  by  a  Colonel  John  Butler,  a  tory 
refugee,  and  others,  no  less  inhuman  and  cruel  than 
their  savage  allies.  In  order  to  lull  the  inhabitants 
into  security,  the  enemy  several  times  sent  messages 
to  the  settlers,  that  they  had  no  hostile  designs  against 
them,  and  the  treacherous  Butler  himself  declared, 
that  he  should  not  molest  them  the  present  season. 
The  inhabitants  however,  had  reason  to  distrust  their 
professions,  and  those  capable  of  bearing  arms,  were 
immediately  embodied  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Zeb.  Butler,  cousin  to  the  commander  of  the  savages. 
The  women  and  children  were  directed  to  take 
refuge  in  the  forts.  The  enemy  approached  and 
pretending  they  were  desirous  of  a  parley,  proposed 
that  Colonel  Zeb.  Butler  should  meet  them  at  some 
distance  from  the  fort  for  that  purpose.  He  com 
plied,  but  for  safety,  took  with  him  four  hundred 
armed  men.  This  proved  to  be  a  fatal  stratagem, 
he  soon  found  himself  surrounded  and  attacked  on 
every  side ;  he  and  his  little  party  defended  them 
selves  with  great  firmness  and  bravery ;  and  the 
commander,  with  about  twenty  of  his  men,  finally 
made  their  escape.  The  enemy  now  rushed  on  and 
invested  the  fort,  which  they  cannonaded  most  of 
the  day ;  and  horrid  to  relate,  when  they  sent  in 
a  demand  for  the  surrender,  it  was  accompanied  by 
one  hundred  and  ninety  six  bkjody  scalps  taken  from 


172  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

those  who  had  just  been  slain.     Colonel  Dennison, 
on  whom  the  command   of  the  fort  had  devolved, 
defended  himself  till  most  of  his  men  had  fallen  by 
his  side,  when  he  went  out  with  a  flag,  to  inquire 
what  terms  would  be  granted  him  on  surrendering 
the  garrison  ?  He  received  from  the  ferocious  Butler, 
a  reply  in  two  words,  "  the  hatchet"     Colonel  Den- 
nison  was  finally  obliged  to  surrender  at  discretion, 
still  retaining  a  hope  of  mercy.    But  he  was  wofully 
mistaken,  the  threat  of  Butler  was  rigorously  exe 
cuted  ;  after  selecting  a  few  prisoners,  the  remainder 
of  the  people,  including  women  and  children,  were 
enclosed  in  the  houses  and  barracks,  which  were 
immediately  set  on  fire,  and  the  whole  consumed  to 
gether.     Another  fort  was  neap  at  hand,  in  which 
were  seventy  continental  soldiers ;  on  surrendering 
without  conditions,  these  were,  to  a  man,  butchered 
in  a  barbarous  manner ;  when  the  remainder  of  the 
men,  women  and  children  were  shut  up  in  the  houses, 
and  the  demons  of  hell,  glutted  their  vengeance,  in 
beholding  their  destruction  in  one  general  conflagra 
tion  !  !     This  tragical  scene  being  finished,  the  mer 
ciless  authors  of  it,  spread  fire  and  sword  throughout 
the  settlement,    sparing   however,    the  houses  and 
farms  of  the  tories  ;  they  extended  their  cruel  hands 
to  the  cattle  in  the  field,  shooting  some,  and  cutting 
out  the  tongues  of  others,  leaving  them  alive.     The 
additional  particulars,  from  their  unparalleled  enor 
mity,  would  not  be  recited  here,  were  it  not  that 
they  have  been  already  promulgated  from  authentic 
sources.     One  of  the  prisoners,  a  Captain  Badlock, 
was  committed  to  torture,  by  having  his  body  stuck 
full  of  splinters  of  pine  knots,  and  a  fire  of  dry  wood 
made  round  him,  when  his  two  companions,  Captains 
Ranson  and  Durkee,  were  thrown  into  the  same  fire, 
and  held  down  with  pitch  forks,  till  consumed.     One 
Partial  Terry,  the  son  of  a  man  of  respectable  charac 
ter,  having  joined  the  Indian  party,  several  times 
sent  his  father  word  that  he  hoped  to  wash  his  hands 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  173 

in  his  heart's  blood  ;  the  monster  with  his  own  hands 
murdered  his  father,  mother,  brothers  and  sisters, 
stripped  off  their  scalps,  and  cut  off  his  father's 
head  !  !  Thomas  Terry,  with  his  own  hands  butch 
ered  his  own  mother,  his  father-in-law,  his  sisters 
and  their  infant  children,  and  exterminated  the 
whole  family  !  A  few  individuals,  mostly  women 
and  children,  made  their  escape  during  the  carnage 
of  the  day,  and  dispersed  themselves,  wandering  in 
the  woods  destitute  of  provision  or  covering,  shudder 
ing  with  terror  and  distress  ;  their  sufferings  must  be 
extreme,  and  their  fate  uncertain.  It  is  only  in  the 
infernal  regions  that  we  can  look  for  a  parallel  instance 
of  unnatural  wickedness.  The  cries  of  widows  and 
orphans  call  for  the  avenging  hand  of  heaven.  The 
name  of  Colonel  John  Butler,  ought  to  be  consigned 
to  eternal  infamy,  for  the  base  treachery  and  cruelty 
with  which  he  betrayed  his  kinsman,  Colonel  Zeb. 
Butler,  a  respectable  American  officer,  while  under 
the  sanction  of  a  flag. 

4th. — In  company  with  Mr.  Governeur  Morris 
and  Dr.  Brown,  our  Surgeon  General,  I  rode  to  camp 
near  White  Plains ;  waited  on  Colonel  Scammel, 
Adjutant  General,  to  inquire,  whether  any  regiment 
is  destitute  of  a  surgeon,  as  I  am  desirous  of  exchang 
ing  my  present  station  for  the  office  of  regimental 
surgeon.  This  object  I  might  have  effected,  but  Dr. 
Brown  prevailed  on  me  not  to  dissolve  my  connexion 
with  the  General  Hospital  at  present.  From  camp, 
I  performed  a  journey  to  Branford,  and  from  thence 
to  Danbury,  in  Connecticut.  Dined  with  Drs.  Eustis 
and  Adams,  at  their  quarters  at  Branford,  and  reach 
ed  Danbury  in  the  evening.  On  my  return,  the  5th, 
dined  at  a  tavern  at  Crompond,  and  in  the  afternoon, 
I  missed  my  road,  and  my  horse  tired.  I  was  direct 
ed  into  an  obscure  path  through  a  thick  forest,  and 
arrived  at  the  hospital  late  in  the  evening.  Riding 
through  a  thick  wood,  my  attention  was  arrested  by 
a  novel  spectacle,  on  a  branch  of  a  large  oak  about 


374  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

thirty  feet  high,  I  observed  a  monstrous  black  snake, 
suspended  by  a  coil  of  its  tail,  his  head  and  about 
half  his  length  inclining  downwards,  basking  in  the 
sun.  It  appeared  about  two  yards  in  length,  and  the 
size  of  a  man's  arm.  Its  skin  was  of  a  jet  black,  and 
its  prominent  sparkling  black  eyes  were  very  beauti 
ful.  He  viewed  me  as  I  passed  with  the  fierceness 
of  a  tiger ;  but  discovering  none  of  those  fascinating 
charms  by  which  our  credulous  mother  Eve  was  so 
vvofully  beguiled,  and  disdaining  the  whole  progeny 
of  deceivers,  I  passed  on  without  viewing  him  as  an 
object  of  my  civilities. 

7th. — An  unusual  number  of  patients  have  been 
brought  into  our  hospital  within  a  few  days.  Their 
diseases  are  putrid  fever  and  dysentery,  many  of  the 
cases  appear  so  malignant,  that  it  is  feared,  they  will 
baffle  all  the  skill  of  the  physician. 

10th. — A  friend  from  Albany  informs  me,  that 
three  men,  and  two  girls  have  lately  been  sentenced 
to  suffer  death  for  murder  and  robbery.  The  two 
girls  are  sisters,  and  one  of  the  men  is  their  brother. 
Another  brother  was  executed  last  autumn,  and  their 
mother  is  now  in  prison,  awaiting  her  trial  for  the 
same  crime.  The  women  had  disguised  themselves 
in  men's  apparel,  arid  united  with  the  tories  and 
Indians  in  perpetrating  the  most  inhuman  cruelties, 
and  savage  barbarities,  among  the  defenceless  and 
innocent  inhabitants.  It  is  time  this  notorious  family 
should  be  exterminated  from  the  earth,  as  an  awful  ex 
ample  to  those  wretches  who  are  still  in  the  practice 
of  similar  crimes.  One  of  the  British  ships,  in  the 
harbor  of  New  York,  took  fire  by  lightning  and  blew 
up  ;  the  explosion  shook  the  whole  city  like  an  earth 
quake,  and  excited  great  consternation  among  the 
inhabitants. 

September  4th. — A  large  French  fleet  has  arrived 
on  our  coast,  under  the  command  of  Count  D'Estaign, 
and  has  blocked  up  the  harbor  of  Newport.  An 
army,  chiefly  of  militia  and  volunteers,  from  the 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  175 

New  England  States,  with  two  brigades  of  conti 
nental  troops,  under  command  of  Major  General  Sul 
livan,  laid  siege  to  the  royal  army  on  the  island. 
From  this  land  force,  with  the  co-operation  of  the 
French  fleet,  very  sanguine  expectations  were  formed 
that  the  enterprize  would  have  been  crowned  with 
success.  But  the  English  fleet  appeared,  and  Count 
D'Estaign  was  induced  to  pursue  them  and  to  offer 
battle,  when  unfortunately  a  violent  storm  arose,  by 
which  his  fleet  suffered  so  considerably  that  the 
Count  was  obliged  to  quit  the  expedition,  and  pro 
ceed  to  Boston  to  repair  his  ships.  General  Sulli 
van's  army  continued  several  days  on  the  island, 
besieging  the  enemy,  and  finally  a  smart  engagement 
ensued,  in  which  both  our  regular  troops  and  the 
militia,  emulous  of  fame  and  glory,  combatted  the 
enemy  during  the  day.  The  result  of  the  contest 
was  a  repulse  of  the  royal  forces  ;  they  retired  from 
the  field  with  considerable  loss,  and  employed  them 
selves  in  fortifying  their  camp.  In  the  absence  of 
the  French  fleet,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  sent  from  New- 
York  large  reinforcements,  in  consequence  of  which 
it  was  unanimously  agreed  in  a  council  of  war,  to 
retire  from  the  island.  The  retreat  was  conducted 
by  General  Sullivan,  with  great  judgment  and  dis 
cretion,  without  loss  of  men  or  baggage,  though  in  the 
face  of  an  enemy  of  superior  force.  This  exploit 
reflects  great  honor  both  on  the  general  and  the 
brave  troops  under  his  command.  In  the  honors  of 
this  expedition,  and  retreat,  Major  General  Greene, 
and  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  participated  conspic 
uously,  but  were  greatly  disappointed  in  the  final 
result. 

5th. — Major  General  Lee  has  gone  through  his 
trial,  before  a  court  martial,  appointed  for  the  purpose. 
The  charges  exhibited  against  him  were,  1st.  Diso 
bedience  of  orders,  in  not  attacking  the  enemy  on 
the  28th  of  June,  agreeably  to  repeated  instructions. 
2d.  For  misbehavior  before  the  enemv  on  the  same 


176  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

day,  in  making  an  unnecessary,  disorderly  and  shame 
ful  retreat.  3d.  For  disrespect  to  the  Commander 
in  Chief,  in  two  letters  dated  June  28th,  and  July 
1st.  To  these  several  charges  the  General  made  a 
very  able  and  excellent  defence  ;  particularizing  all 
the  circumstances  attending  the  unhappy  affair,  and 
to  the  utmost  of  his  ability  extenuating  and  vindicat 
ing  his  conduct.  The  court,  nevertheless,  pronounc 
ed  him  guilty,  and  their  sentence  was,  "  that  Major 
General  Lee  be  suspended  from  his  command,  in  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,  for  the  space  of  one 
year."  This  sentence  is  like  a  mortal  wound  to  the 
lofty,  aspiring  spirit  of  General  Lee ;  few  men  are 
less  calculated  to  sustain  such  a  rebuff  to  pride  and 
ambitious  views.* 

6th. — A  duel  was  fought  a  few  days  since  between 
General  G.  and  Colonel  W.  Two  shots  were  ex 
changed  without  bloodshed,  and  a  reconciliation  was 
effected.  The  gentlemen,  it  is  said,  displayed  a 
firmness  and  bravery  becoming  their  rank  and  char 
acter,  and  have  established  their  claim  to  the  title  of 
gentlemen  of  honor.  As  their  courage  has  never 
been  called  in  question,  the  present  rencontre  was 
unnecessary,  unless  it  be  to  evince  that  they  possess 
malice  enough  in  their  hearts  to  commit  a  murderous 
deed.  The  example  of  superior  officers  will  have 
great  influence  with  those  of  inferior  rank,  whether 
contending  with  the  dogs  of  war,  or  in  adjusting  the 
minor  points  of  honor. 

8th. — Major  General  Putnam  has  arrived  in  this 
vicinity,  with  the  division  of  Virginia  and  Maryland 
troops  under  his  command,  and  they  have  encamped 
on  the  borders  of  the  river.  Brigadiers  Woodford 
and  Muhlenburg  have  taken  up  quarters  in  apart 
ments  in  our  hospital.  This  is  my  first  interview 
with  this  celebrated  hero.  In  his  person  he  is  cor 
pulent  and  clumsy,  but  carries  a  bold,  undaunted 

*  See  Appendix,  for  General  Lee's  character  and  abuse  of  General 
Washington. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  177 

front.  He  exhibits  little  of  the  refinements  of  the 
well  educated  gentleman,  but  much  of  the  character 
of  the  veteran  soldier.  He  appears  to  be  advanced 
to  the  age  of  about  sixty  jears,  and  it  is  famed  of 
him  that  he  has,  in  many  instances,  proved  himself  as 
brave  as  Caesar.  He  visited  our  hospital,  and  inquir 
ed  with  much  solicitude  into  the  condition  of  our 
patients;  observing  a  considerable  number  of  men 
who  were  infected  with  the  ground  itchy  generated 
by  laying  on  the  ground,  he  inquired  why  they  were 
not  cured.  I  answered,  "  because  we  have  no  hog's 
lard  to  make  ointment."  "  Did  you  never,"  says 
the  general,  "  cure  the  itch  with  tar  and  brimstone  ?" 
"No  Sir."  "Then,"  replied  he  good  humoredly, 
i(  you  are  not  fit  for  a  doctor."* 

Dr.  Ferguson,  Secretary  to  the  British  commis 
sioners,  forwarded  to  Congress  a  declaration  signed 
George  Johnstone,  respecting  the  resolve  of  Congress 
relative  to  his  attempt  on  the  fidelity  of  one  of  their 
members,  which  resolve  he  thinks  to  be  calculated  by 
Congress  to  delude  the  people  of  America,  and  to 
defeat  the  design  of  the  commissioners  in  effecting 
an  accommodation,  which  he  says  he  would  not  pre 
vent,  and  therefore  declines  acting  any  more  as  a  com 
missioner.  Another  declaration  signed  by  the  three 
commissioners,  Carlisle,  Clinton,  and  Eden,  in  which 
they  disclaim  all  knowledge  of  the  conduct  of  Gov 
ernor  Johnstone,  in  tampering  with  a  member  of  Con 
gress,  till  they  read  it  in  the  newspapers.  This 
paper  contains  ungenerous  reflections  on  France,  and 
intimates  their  astonishment  that  the  Americans 
should  prefer  an  alliance  with  France  to  a  submis 
sion  to  the  government  of  England.  This,  their  last 
manifesto,  has  been  published,  and  by  permission  of 
Congress,  circulated  through  the  United  States.  It 
was  addressed  to  the  members  of  Congress,  the  mem 
bers  of  the  general  assemblies  or  conventions  of  the 
several  colonies,  plantations,  and  provinces,  and  was 

*See  Appendix,  for  his  character. 

23 


178  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

to  be  iii  force  forty  days  from  the  date.  It  offers  a 
general  or  separate  peace  to  the  colonies,  with  the 
revival  of  their  ancient  government,  secured  against 
future  infringements,  and  protected  forever  from  tax 
ation  by  Great  Britain,  if  they  will  relinquish  their  in 
dependence,  break  their  faith  with  France,  Congress 
having  formed  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  that  nation, 
and  submit  to  the  British  yoke.  These,  if  not  the 
positive,  are  the  implied  terms  on  which  they  offer 
peace.  But  if  their  terms  are  not  complied  with, 
then  are  we  to  expect  more  severe  expressions  of 
British  vengeance  than  we  have  hitherto  experienced. 
Hostilities  are,  they  say,  to  be  conducted  in  a  more 
rigorous  and  terrific  form,  that  the  United  States  may 
be  rendered  of  less  importance  to  the  French  King, 
their  inveterate  enemy,  and  our  new  ally.  We  are, 
therefore,  if  we  persevere  in  our  obstinacy,  threat 
ened  with  the  cruel  extremes  of  war,  and  a  desola 
tion  of  our  country.  This  last  manifesto  contains  a 
recital  of  what  the  commissioners  term  the  blessings 
they  are  empowered  to  confer,  and  a  warning  of  the 
continued  train  of  evils  to  which  the  colonies  are  at 
present  blindly  and  obstinately  exposing  themselves, 
&c.  &c.  The  commissioners  explicitly  declared  that 
they  had  neither  authority  nor  inclination  to  ac 
knowledge  the  colonies  to  be  independent — and 
Congress  having  informed  them  "  that  they  would 
treat  with  Great  Britain  on  no  other  terms,"  it  put 
an  end  to  the  negotiation,  and  the  commissioners,  it 
is  understood,  are  preparing  to  depart  from  the  con 
tinent.  The  British  government  manifests  extreme 
chagrin  and  disappointment,  on  account  of  the  pros 
perous  career  of  the  United  States,  and  are  very  in 
dignant  that  their  conceited  omnipotent  authority 
should  be  so  presumptuously  called  in  question  by 
those,  whom  they  still  affect  to  consider  in  the  light 
of  dependant  colonies. 

In  their  reply  to  the  declarations  of  the  commis 
sioners,  our  Congress  mention  the  causes  which  in- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1778.  179 

duced  the  people  of  America  to  array  themselves  in 
arms,  that  it  was  the  oppressive  and  tyrannical  mea 
sures  of  the  British  ministry,  and  after  briefly  recit 
ing  the  cruelties  that  had  hitherto  been  exercised  by 
their  troops,  and  navy,  acting  against  us,  they  add, 
"  that  since  their  incorrigible  dispositions  cannot  be 
touched  by  kindness  and  compassion,  it  becomes 
the  duty  of  Congress,  by  other  means,  to  vindicate 
the  rights  of  humanity,"  and  they  conclude  by  say 
ing,  "  that  if  our  enemies  presume  to  execute  their 
threats,  and  persist  in  their  present  mode  of  barba 
rity,  we  will  take  such  exemplary  vengeance  as  shall 
deter  others  from  a  like  conduct."  They  appeal  to 
that  God,  who  searches  the  hearts  of  all  men,  for  the 
rectitude  of  their  intentions,  and  in  his  holy  presence 
declare,  "  that  as  they  are  not  moved  by  any  light  or 
hasty  suggestions  of  anger  or  revenge,  so  through 
every  possible  change  of  fortune  they  shall  adhere  to 
this  their  determination." 

October. — The  regiment  of  cavalry,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Baylor,  being  posted  on  our  lines  near  Tap- 
pail,  their  situation  was  betrayed  by  some  tories,  and 
a  party  of  the  enemy  surprized  them  while  in  a  barn, 
in  the  night,  and  massacred  a  part  of  them  with  cir 
cumstances  of  savage  cruelty.  The  commander  of 
the  party,  who  disgraced  themselves  by  this  foul 
deed,  was  the  English  General  Grey.  Colonel  Bay 
lor's  detachment  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  four 
horsemen,  the  attack  was  so  sudden,  that  they  were 
entirely  defenceless,  and  the  enemy  immediately  com 
menced  the  horrid  work  of  slaughter ;  their  entreaties 
and  cries  for  mercy  were  totally  disregarded  by  their 
savage  foes.  It  has  been  well  ascertained  that  the 
British  soldiers  were  ordered  by  their  inhuman  offi 
cers  to  bayonet  every  man  they  could  find,  and  to 
give  no  quarter.  Major  General  Lord  Stirling,  hav 
ing  by  request  ascertained  the  particulars  respecting 
this  execrable  transaction,  makes  the  following  state 
ment  :  "  On  its  being  intimated  to  me,"  says  his 


180  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

Lordship,  "  that  Congress  were  desirous  to  know  the 
particulars  of  the  massacre  of  Colonel  Baylor's  regi 
ment,  I  desired  Dr.  Griffith,  surgeon   and  chaplain 
to  General  Woodford's  brigade,  and  who  attended 
Colonel  Baylor  and  the  other  wounded  persons,  to 
collect  all  the  evidence  he  could  of  this  barbarous 
affair.     I  have  just  now  received  collections  on  this 
subject."     The  collection  contains  the  affidavits  and 
depositions  of  a  number  of  soldiers  belonging  to  that 
unfortunate  regiment,  who  solemnly  declare,  that  after 
they  had  surrendered  and  asked  for  quarter,  it  was 
refused.     Thomas  Hutchinson,  sergeant  of  the  third 
troop,  escaped  unhurt ;  but  heard  the   British  sol 
diers  cry  out,  "  Sliver  him,"  repeatedly.     Cullency, 
of  the  first   troop,   who   received  twelve    wounds, 
says,  "  that  when  the  enemy  entered  the  barn  where 
his  troops  lay,  he  and  the  men  asked  for  quarter, 
and  were  refused ;  that  the  British  captain,  Bull, 
after  inquiring  how  many  of  the  rebels  were  dead, 
on  being  told  the  number,  ordered  all  the  rest  to  be 
knocked  on  the  head,  and  that  his  orders  were  ex 
ecuted  on  five  or  six  of  the  wounded."     Benson,  of 
the  second  troop,  received  also  twelve  wounds,  he 
declared  he  heard  the  men  in  the  barn  with  him  ask 
for  quarter,  which  was  returned  with  wounds,  and 
abusive  language  ;  he  thought  it  in  vain  to  ask  for 
quarter  himself,  as  he  heard  the  soldiers  reply  to 
others  that  begged  it,  "  that  their  captain  had  order 
ed  them  to  stab  all,  and  make  no  prisoners."     Thomas 
Talley,  of  the  sixth  troop,  received  six  wounds ;  he 
declared,  "  that  after  the  enemy  had  taken  him  and 
partly  stripped  him,  the  soldiers  inquiring  of  their 
captain  what  should  be  done  with  him,  he  ordered 
him   to   be   killed,  and  after  that  he  received  six 
wounds  in  his  breast  with  their  bayonets  at  different 
times."      Southward,  of  the  fifth  troop,  says,  that 
five  men  out  of  thirteen  of  their  regiment,  in  the 
barn  with  him,  were  killed  outright,  and  the  rest, 
excepting   himself,  bayoneted  ;   that   he   heard  the 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778.  181 

British  officer  order  his  men  to  put  all  to  death,  and 
afterwards  ask  if  they  had  finished  all — that  they 
offered  quarters  to  some,  who  on  surrendering  them 
selves,  they  bayoneted."  The  depositions  of  seven 
others,  attested  by  Governor  Livingston  of  New 
Jersey,  confirm  the  above  declarations.  Mr.  Morris, 
lieutenant  and  adjutant  in  Baylor's  regiment,  receiv 
ed  seven  wounds ;  he  declared  that  on  begging  his 
life  after  he  had  surrendered,  they  replied,  yes,  d — n 
you,  we  will  give  you  quarters,  and  then  rushed  on 
and  stabbed  him  with  their  bayonets,  and  stripped 
him  of  all  his  clothes.  It  is  a  melancholy  and 
awful  consideration,  that  any  unnecessary  severity 
should  be  put  in  practice  to  aggravate  the  common 
horrors  of  war.  Britain,  who  boasts  of  her  bravery, 
her  progress  in  the  polite  arts,  and  generosity  of 
temper,  has,  in  her  manner  of  conducting  the  war  in 
America,  most  infamously  outraged  all  the  laws  of 
humanity,  and  set  an  example  of  savage  brutality, 
detestable  to  every  civilized  people,  and  to  every 
friend  of  human  kind.  They  are  destroying  the  char 
acter  of  their  nation  in  the  eyes  of  all  the  world. 
Witness  their  fatal  prison  ships,  their  murders  in 
cold  blood,  their  wanton,  burning  and  devastations, 
their  licentious  abuses,  which  exhibit  a  picture  of  bar 
barity  scarcely  to  be  credited  among  civilized  na 
tions.  What  then  must  be  our  situation,  should  our 
country  ever  be  reduced  to  an  absolute  subjection  to 
such  a  mean  spirited  people  ?  These  considerations 
should  awaken  every  motive  that  can  animate  a  manly 
bosom,  to  despise  every  danger  in  repelling  from  our 
shores  such  barbarous  invaders  and  in  humbling  such 
unprincipled  foes  to  our  freedom. 

His  Excellency,  the  Commander  in  Chief,  made  a 
visit  to  our  hospital ;  his  arrival  was  scarcely  an 
nounced,  before  he  presented  himself  at  our  doors. 
Dr.  Williams  and  myself  had  the  honor  to  wait  on  this 
great  and  truly  good  man,  through  the  different 
wards,  and  to  reply  to  his  inquiries  relative  to  the 


182  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

condition  of  our  patients.  He  appeared  to  take  a 
deep  interest  in  the  situation  of  the  sick  and  wound 
ed  soldiers,  and  inquired  particularly  as  to  their 
treatment  and  comfortable  accommodations.  Not 
being  apprized  of  his  intended  visit  in  time  to  make 
preparation  for  his  reception,  we  were  not  entirely 
free  from  embarrassment,  but  we  had  the  inexpressi 
ble  satisfaction  of  receiving  his  Excellency's  appro 
bation  of  our  conduct,  as  respects  the  duties  of  our 
department.  The  personal  appearance  of  our  Com 
mander  in  Chief,  is  that  of  the  perfect  gentleman  and 
accomplished  warrior.  He  is  remarkably  tall,  full  six 
feet,  erect  and  well  proportioned.  The  strength  and 
proportion  of  his  joints  arid  muscles,  appear  to  be 
commensurate  with  the  preeminent  powers  of  his 
mind.  The  serenity  of  his  countenance,  and  majes 
tic  gracefulness  of  his  deportment,  impart  a  strong 
impression  of  that  dignity  and  grandeur,  which  are 
his  peculiar  characteristics,  and  no  one  can  stand  in 
his  presence  without  feeling  the  ascendancy  of  his 
mind,  and  associating  with  his  countenance  the  idea 
of  wisdom,  philanthropy,  magnanimity,  and  patrio 
tism.  There  is  a  fine  symmetry  in  the  features  of  his 
face,  indicative  of  a  benign  and  dignified  spirit. 
His  nose  is  strait,  and  his  eyes  inclined  to  blue.  He 
wears  his  hair  in  a  becoming  cue,  and  from  his  fore 
head  it  is  turned  back  and  powdered  in  a  manner 
which  adds  to  the  military  air  of  his  appearance. 
He  displays  a  native  gravity,  but  devoid  of  all  ap 
pearance  of  ostentation.  His  uniform  dress  is  a  blue 
coat,  with  two  brilliant  epaulettes,  buff  colored  un 
der  clothes,  and  a  three  cornered  hat,  with  a  black 
cockade.  He  is  constantly  equipped  with  an  elegant 
small  sword,  boots  and  spurs,  in  readiness  to  mount 
his  noble  charger.  There  is  not  in  the  present  age, 
perhaps,  another  man  so  eminently  qualified  to  dis 
charge  the  arduous  duties  of  the  exalted  station  he 
is  called  to  sustain,  amidst  difficulties  which  to  others 
would  appear  insurmountable,  nor  could  any  man 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  183 

have  more  at  command  the  veneration  and  regard  of 
the  officers  and  soldiers  of  our  army,  even  after  de 
feat  and  misfortune.  This  is  the  illustrious  chief, 
whom  a  kind  Providence  has  decreed  as  the  instru 
ment  to  conduct  our  country  to  peace  and  to  Inde 
pendence. 

Major  General  Schuyler,  having  for  more  than 
a  year  been  suspended  from  military  command,  in 
consequence  of  his  concurrent  responsibility  respect 
ing  the  evacuation  of  Ticonderoga,  in  July,  1777, 
has  at  length  undergone  his  trial  by  a  court  martial, 
of  which  Major  General  Lincoln  was  president,  and 
is  acquitted,  with  the  highest  honor,  of  the  charge 
exhibited  against  him.  This  excellent  officer  has 
finally  obtained  that  justice,  which  from  undue  pre 
judice  has  so  long  been  denied  him. 

Major  General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  has  also  by  the 
same  court,  been  acquitted  with  the  highest  honor  of 
the  charge  exhibited  against  him,  of  evacuating  the 
post  at  Ticonderoga.  His  masterly  defence  before  the 
court,  is  admired  for  the  display  of  superior  intellect, 
sound  principle,  pure  integrity,  and  correctness  of 
judgment.  General  St.  Clair,  it  is  presumed,  will 
never  receive  an  adequate  compensation  for  the  un 
merited  contumely  which  he  has  experienced  from 
Congress  and  the  public.  It  is  the  height  of  injus 
tice  to  subject  a  man  of  established  character,  to  suf 
fer  in  reputation,  and  in  sensibility,  merely  from  sur 
mise  and  suspicion  ;  and  the  injury  is  greatly  aggra 
vated,  when  the  accused  is  long  held  up  to  public 
odium,  and  not  permitted  to  adduce  evidence  in  his 
own  vindication.  General  St.  Clair  has  frequently 
been  heard  to  express  a  consciousness  of  the  upright 
ness  and  propriety  of  his  conduct,  and  to  despise  the 
vague  censure  of  an  uninformed  populace ;  and  when 
Burgoyne  was  advancing  into  the  country,  he  said 
he  had  the  most  sanguine  hope,  that  the  progress  of 
the  enemy  would  be  checked,  and  that  he  should 
have  the  satisfaction,  to  experience,  that  though  he 


184  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778. 

had  lost  a  post,  he  had  eventually  saved  a  state. 
This  hope  he  has  realized  in  its  fullest  extent,  by 
the  event,  that  the  British  commander  and  army,  to 
whom  he  surrendered  a  post,  has  since  been  com 
pelled  to  submit  as  captives  to  our  army.  General 
St.  Clair,  was  an  oflicer  in  the  army  of  General  Wolfe, 
and  was  in  the  battle  in  which  that  celebrated  com 
mander  was  slain  on  the  Plains  of  Abraham.  He 
was  estimated  as  a  young  officer  of  merit,  capable 
of  obtaining  a  high  grade  of  military  reputation. 
Soon  after  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  in  1775, 
he  was,  without  his  solicitation,  appointed  to  the  office 
of  colonel,  and  he  marched  with  his  regiment  into 
Canada,  where  he  rendered  very  important  services. 
He  was  subsequently  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major 
general,  and  on  all  occasions  supported  an  honorable 
distinction,  and  shared  largely  in  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  the  Commander  in  Chief. 

November  3d. — Having  made  a  visit  to  Fishkill,  I 
returned  in  company  with  Dr.  Treat,  our  Physician 
General,  and  found  a  large  number  of  gentlemen  col 
lecting  to  partake  of  an  entertainment,  by  invitation 
of  Brigadier  General  Muhlenburg,  who  occupies  a 
room  in  our  hospital.  The  guests  consisted  of  forty 
one  respectable  officers,  and  our  tables  were  furnish 
ed  with  fourteen  different  dishes,  arranged  in  fashion 
able  style.  After  dinner,  Major  General  Putnam 
was  requested  to  preside,  and  he  displayed  no  less 
urbanity  at  the  head  of  the  table,  than  bravery  at  the 
head  of  his  division.  A  number  of  toasts  were  pro 
nounced,  accompanied  with  humorous  and  merry 
songs.  In  the  evening  we  were  cheered  with  military 
music  and  dancing,  which  continued  till  a  late  hour 
in  the  night.  General  Muhlenburg  was  a  minister 
of  a  parish  in  Virginia,  but  participating  in  the  spirit 
of  the  times,  exchanged  his  clerical  profession  for 
that  of  a  soldier.  Having  in  his  pulpit  inculcated 
the  principles  of  liberty,  and  the  cause  of  his  country, 
he  found  no  difficulty  in  enlisting  a  regiment  of  sol- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1778.  185 

diers,  and  he  was  appointed  their  commander.  He  en 
tered  his  pulpit  with  his  sword  and  cockade,  preached 
his  farewell  sermon,  arid  the  next  day  marched  at 
the  head  of  his  regiment  to  join  the  army,  and  he 
does  honor  to  the  military  profession. 

Wth. — Having  for  a  long  time  served  in  the  hos 
pital  department,  and  having  no  claim  to  promotion 
there,  I  resolved  to  relinquish  that  station,  and  accept 
the  appointment  of  surgeon  to  the  first  Virginia  state 
regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  George  Gibson. 
Being  introduced  to  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  I 
received  a  polite  invitation  to  take  my  quarters  in 
the  marquee  with  Colonel  Gibson,  and  his  Lieutenant 
Colonel,  William  Brent.  Thomas  Meriweather  is 
his  Major. 

18th. — Rode  to  the  village  of  Fishkill,  breakfasted 
with  Dr.  Treat  and  Colonel  Hayes,  and  waited  on 
Dr.  John  Cochran,  who  is  now  in  close  attendance  on 
the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  who  is  dangerously  sick 
with  a  fever. 

23d. — We  have  now  had  a  long  respite  from  battles 
and  skirmishes,  the  season  for  the  campaign  is  about 
expiring,  and  no  one  can  boast  of  having  achieved 
deeds  of  much  fame  and  glory.  As  we  are  stationed 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  enemy  at  New 
York,  we  feel  secure  from  the  annoyance  of  the  dogs 
of  war ;  and  military  duty  not  being  very  urgent, 
our  officers  appear  disposed  to  relax  in  their  discipline 
and  contract  a  habit  approaching  to  dissipation.  They 
have  adopted  the  practice  of  giving  suppers  alter 
nately,  with  music  and  dancing  through  half  the 
night.  These  are  the  favorite  amusements  of  the 
Virginia  and  Maryland  officers,  but  they  do  not  ac 
cord  precisely  with  my  own  views  of  time  well  spent, 
though  I  am  frequently  enticed  to  a  participation  in 
their  banqueting  revels. 

24th. — I  accepted  an  invitation  to  dine  with  Cap 
tain  Carter,  at  West  Point.  He  is  a  gentleman  of 
independent  fortune  and  lives  in  splendid  style.  His 
24 


186  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1778. 

guests  were  numerous  and  highly  respectable,  and 
the  entertainment  rich  and  arranged  with  taste. 

25th. — Dined  with  General  Muhlenburg,  in  com 
pany  with  several  Virginia  officers,  and  as  usual,  closed 
the  day  with  music  and  dancing. 

27th. — Visited  my  friends  at  Fishkill,  and  by  the 
request  of  Colonel  Gibson,  I  waited  on  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette.  The  colonel  furnished  me  with  a 
letter  of  introduction,  and  his  compliments,  with 
inquiries  respecting  the  Marquis's  health.  I  was 
received  by  this  nobleman  in  a  polite  and  affable 
manner.  He  is  just  recovering  from  a  fever,  and 
was  in  his  chair  of  convalescence.  He  is  nearly  six 
feet  high,  large  but  not  corpulent,  being  not  more 
than  twenty  one  years  of  age.  He  is  not  very  elegant 
in  his  form,  his  shoulders  being  broad  and  high,  nor 
is  there  a  perfect  symmetry  in  his  features,  his  fore 
head  is  remarkably  high,  his  nose  large  and  long, 
eyebrows  prominent  and  projecting  over  a  fine  ani 
mated  hazel  eye.  His  countenance  is  interesting  and 
impressive.  He  converses  in  broken  English,  and 
displays  the  manners  and  address  of  an  accomplished 
gentleman.  Considering  him  a  French  nobleman  of 
distinguished  character,  and  a  great  favorite  of  Gen 
eral  Washington,  I  felt  myself  highly  honored  by 
this  interview.* 

December  15th. — At  a  settlement  called  Cherry 
Valley,  about  sixty  miles  above  Albany,  Colonel 
Alden,  of  Duxbury,  Massachusetts,  was  stationed 
with  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  continental  troops, 
to  protect  the  inhabitants  from  the  incursions  of  the 
frontier  enemy.  It  is  now  announced,  that  a  body 
consisting  of  about  seven  hundred  Indians,  tories  and 
soldiers  assaulted  our  party,  massacred  Colonel  Alden, 
several  of  the  inhabitants,  men,  women  and  children, 
and  made  prisoners  of  the  lieutenant  colonel  and 
many  of  the  inhabitants.  The  account  states  that 
one  hundred  and  eighty  of  the  surviving  inhabitants 

*  For  the  character  of  the  Marquis,  see  Appendix. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1778.  187 

had  neither  house  nor  provisions,  were  almost  naked 
and  destitute  of  money  to  provide  necessaries. 

Our  division,  commanded  by  General  Putnam, 
marched  according  to  general  orders,  from  our  encamp 
ment  near  Robinson's  house  28th  November ;  arrived 
at  King's  ferry,  twelve  miles,  and  encamped ;  29th, 
crossed  the  North  river  in  batteaux,  and  pitched  our 
camp  on  the  Jersey  shore :  30th,  marched  twelve  miles 
only,  in  a  severe  storm  of  snow  and  sleet,  encamped 
near  the  small  town  of  Kakiat  December  1st  and 
2d,  passed  through  Paramus  and  Aquackanock,  twenty 
six  miles.  These  towns  are  inhabited  chiefly  by 
Dutch  people ;  their  churches  and  dwelling  houses 
are  built  mostly  of  rough  stone,  one  story  high.  There 
is  a  peculiar  neatness  in  the  appearance  of  their 
dwellings,  having  an  airy  piazza  supported  by  pil 
lars  in  front,  and  their  kitchens  connected  at  the 
ends  in  the  form  of  wings.  The  land  is  remarkably 
level,  and  the  soil  fertile,  and  being  generally  ad 
vantageously  cultivated,  the  people  appear  to  enjoy 
ease  and  happy  competency.  The  furniture  in  their 
houses  is  of  the  most  ordinary  kind,  and  such  as  might 
be  supposed  to  accord  with  the  fashion  of  the  days  of 
Queen  Ann.  They  despise  the  superfluities  of  life, 
and  are  ambitious  to  appear  always  neat  and  cleanly, 
and  never  to  complain  of  an  empty  purse. 

Pursued  our  route  on  the  3d,  passed  through 
Westfield,  and  part  of  Newark,  a  handsome  village 
situated  on  a  river  of  that  name,  which  is  navigable 
to  New  York,  distance  eight  miles.  In  this  village 
there  is  a  public  academy  and  several  handsome 
churches.  This  is  the  garden  of  New  Jersey,  it  is 
a  most  delightful  country,  uniformly  level,  and  every 
acre  abundantly  productive.  4th,  marched  through 
Springfield,  a  small  but  handsome  English  town.  En 
camped  near  the  village  of  Scotch  plains.  Here  we 
received  orders  by  express  from  head  quarters  to 
halt,  in  consequence  of  some  movement  of  the  enemy 
in  New  York.  9th,  ordered  to  resume  our  inarch, 


188  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779. 

passed  through  Quibbletown,  and  the  village  of 
Middle  brook.  In  this  vicinity  we  are  erecting  log 
huts  for  our  winter  quarters. 

I  called  at  a  house  with  Colonel  Gibson  and  other 
officers  to  view  a  phenomenon  in  the  human  form — 
a  child  that  has  grown  to  an  enormous  size  at  the 
age  of  seven  years  ;  he  measures  three  feet  six  inches 
round  his  breast,  and  three  feet  nine  inches  round 
his  belly,  his  limbs  and  joints  are  proportionably 
large,  and  he  weighs  one  hundred  and  thirty  pounds. 
I  was  informed  by  the  boy's  mother  that  she  dis 
covered  in  him  an  extraordinary  growth  when  two 
years  old,  since  which  he  has  increased  very  rapid 
ly.  He  enjoys  good  health,  and  is  not  deficient  in 
capacity. 

30th. — Our  officers  have  not  permitted  the  Christ 
mas  days  to  pass  unnoticed,  not  a  day  without  re 
ceiving  invitations  to  dine,  nor  a  night  without 
amusement  and  dancing.  I  dine  to  day  with  Gen 
eral  Muhlenburg.  Our  soldiers  are  constantly  em 
ployed  in  cutting  down  trees  and  building  log  huts 
for  our  winter's  accommodation,  and  we  are  obliged 
to  live  in  our  uncomfortable  tents  till  they  can  be 
completed.  This  is  appropriated  as  a  day  of  Thanks 
giving  throughout  the  state.  Our  brigade  was  pa 
raded  in  the  field  to  attend  divine  service.  Dr.  Bel- 
main,  our  chaplain,  delivered  a  judicious  sermon, 
well  adapted  to  the  occasion,  adverting  to  the  great 
cause  in  which  we  are  engaged  and  enjoining  a  grate 
ful  reverence  to  the  Almighty  Ruler  of  the  universe, 
and  a  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  incumbent  on 
us  in  our  several  stations. 

January  1st,  1779. — Colonel  Gibson  made  an  en 
tertainment  and  invited  all  the  officers  of  his  regi 
ment  to  dine  at  his  quarters  in  the  country  a  short 
distance  from  camp.  The  table  was  amply  furnished 
and  the  guests  did  not  separate  till  evening,  when 
we  were  requested  to  resort  to  General  Muhl en- 
burg's  quarters.  Here  we  were  introduced  to  a 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779.  189 

number  of  ladies  assembled  to  unite  with  the  gentle 
men  in  the  ball  room ;  a  very  elegant  supper  was 
provided  and  not  one  of  the  company  was  permitted 
to  retire  till  three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Thus  have 
the  gallant  Virginians  commenced  the  new  year. 

February. — Having  continued  to  live  under  cover 
of  canvass  tents  most  of  the  winter,  we  have  suffered 
extremely  from  exposure  to  cold  and  storms.  Our 
soldiers  have  been  employed  six  or  eight  weeks  in 
constructing  log  huts,  which  at  length  are  completed, 
and  both  officers  and  soldiers  are  now  under  comfort 
able  covering  for  the  remainder  of  the  winter.  Log 
houses  are  constructed  with  the  trunks  of  trees,  cut 
into  various  lengths  according  to  the  size  intended, 
and  are  firmly  connected  by  notches  cut  at  their 
extremities  in  the  manner  of  dovetailing.  The 
vacancies  between  the  logs  are  filled  in  with  plaster 
ing  consisting  of  mud  and  clay.  The  roof  is  formed 
of  similar  pieces  of  timber,  and  covered  with  hewn 
slabs.  The  chimney  situated  at  one  end  of  the  house 
is  made  of  similar  but  smaller  timber,  and  both  the 
inner  and  the  outer  side  are  covered  with  clay  plaster, 
to  defend  the  wood  against  the  fire.  The  door  and 
windows  are  formed  by  sawing  away  a  part  of  the 
logs  of  a  proper  size,  and  move  on  wooden  hinges. 
In  this  manner  have  our  soldiers,  without  nails,  and 
almost  without  tools,  except  the  axe  and  saw,  provid 
ed  for  their  officers  and  for  themselves  comfortable  and 
convenient  quarters,  with  little  or  no  expense  to  the 
public.  The  huts  are  arranged  in  strait  lines  form 
ing  a  regular  uniform  compact  village.  The  officers' 
huts  are  situated  in  front  of  the  line,  according  to 
their  rank,  the  kitchens  in  the  rear,  and  the  whole 
is  similar  in  form  to  a  tent  encampment.  The  ground 
for  a  considerable  distance  in  front  of  the  soldiers' 
line  of  huts  is  cleared  of  wood,  stumps  and  rubbish, 
and  is  every  morning  swept  clean  for  the  purpose  of 
a  parade  ground  and  roll  call  for  the  respective  regi 
ments.  The  officers'  huts  are  in  general  divided 


190  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

into  two  apartments,  and  are  occupied  by  three  or 
four  officers,  who  compose  one  mess.  Those  for  the 
soldiers,  have  but  one  room,  and  contain  ten  or  twelve 
men,  with  their  cabins  placed  one  above  another 
against  the  walls,  and  filled  with  straw,  and  one 
blanket  for  each  man.  I  now  occupy  a  hut  with  our 
field  officers,  Colonel  Gibson,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Brent,  and  Major  Meriweather. 

4th. — A  duel  has  lately  been  fought  between  a 
surgeon  and  an  adjutant  in  General  Scott's  brigade  ; 
the  former  received  a  bad  wound,  and  the  latter 
escaped  with  honor.  Who  will  hesitate,  says  one,  to 
exchange  a  few  shot  with  a  friend  to  obtain  the  ap 
pellation  of  a  gentleman  of  honor  ?  If  I  kill  my  an 
tagonist  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  settling  a  point  of 
honor  ?  If  I  receive  a  ball  through  my  own  heart,  I 
die  in  the  glorious  cause  of  honor.  "You  have 
offended  me  in  a  delicate  point,"  says  an  officer  to 
his  friend,  "  and  I  now  demand  of  you  the  satisfac 
tion  of  a  gentleman,  I  have  settled  my  affairs,  and 
prepared  myself  to  die,  if  that  shall  be  my  fate," — 
"  then,"  replied  the  other,  "  we  cannot  fight  on  equal 
terms,  for  I  have  not  had  time  to  do  either." 

The  anniversary  of  our  alliance  with  France  was 
celebrated  in  proper  style  a  few  days  since  near  head 
quarters,  at  Pluckemin.  A  splendid  entertainment 
was  given  by  General  Knox  and  the  officers  of  artil 
lery.  General  Washington,  and  his  lady,  with  the 
principal  officers  of  the  army  and  their  ladies,  and 
a  considerable  number  of  respectable  ladies  and  gen 
tlemen  of  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  formed  the  bril 
liant  assembly.  About  four  o'clock  sixteen  cannon 
were  discharged,  and  the  company  collected  in  a 
large  public  building  to  partake  of  an  elegant  din 
ner.  In  the  evening  a  very  beautiful  set  of  fire 
works  was  exhibited,  and  the  celebration  was  con 
cluded  by  a  splendid  ball  opened  by  his  Excellency 
General  Washington,  having  for  his  partner  the 
lady  of  General  Knox. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  l9l 

26th. — A  party  of  the  enemy  made  an  attempt 
yesterday  to  surprize  onr  troops,  stationed  at  Eliza- 
bethtownj  under  the  command  of  General  Maxwell, 
but  the  vigilance  of  the  general  prevented  their 
success.  They  sent  a  party  to  capture  Governor 
Livingston,  of  New  Jersey,  but  in  this  attempt  they 
were  also  frustrated.  After  burning  and  plundering 
a  few  houses,  they  returned  to  Staten  Island,  but 
were  pursued  by  General  Maxwell's  brigade,  which 
occasioned  the  loss  of  a  few  men  on  each  side. 

His  Excellency  the  Commander  in  Chief,  has  long 
been  in  the  practice  of  inviting  a  certain  number  of 
officers  to  dine  at  his  table  every  day.  It  is  not  to 
be  supposed,  that  his  Excellency  can  be  made  ac 
quainted  with  every  officer  by  name,  but  the  invita 
tions  are  given  through  the  medium  of  general  or 
ders,  in  which  is  mentioned  the  brigade,  from  which 
the  officer  is  expected.  Yesterday  I  accompanied 
Major  Cavil  to  head  quarters,  and  had  the  honor  of 
being  numbered  among  the  guests  at  the  table  of  his 
Excellency,  with  his  lady,  two  young  ladies  from  Vir 
ginia,  the  gentlemen  who  compose  his  family,  and 
several  other  officers. 

It  is  natural  to  view  with  keen  attention  the  coun 
tenance  of  an  illustrious  man,  with  a  secret  hope  of 
discovering  in  his  features  some  peculiar  traces  of 
excellence,  which  distinguishes  him  from  and  ele 
vates  him  above  his  fellow  mortals.  These  expec 
tations  are  realized  in  a  peculiar  manner,  in  vie\v- 
ing  the  person  of  General  Washington.  His  tall 
and  noble  stature  and  just  proportions,  his  fine, 
cheerful  open  countenance,  simple  and  modest  de 
portment,  are  all  calculated  to  interest  every  beholder 
in  his  favor,  and  to  command  veneration  and  respect. 
He  is  feared  even  when  silent,  and  beloved  even 
while  we  are  unconscious  of  the  motive.  The  table 
was  elegantly  furnished,  and  the  provisions  ample  but 
not  abounding  in  superfluities.  The  civilities  of  the 
table  were  performed  by  Colonel  Hamilton  and  the 


192  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779. 

other  gentlemen  of  the  family,  the  General  and  lady 
being  seated  at  the  side  of  the  table.  In  conversa 
tion,  his  Excellency's  expressive  countenance  is 
peculiarly  interesting  and  pleasing ;  a  placid  smile  is 
frequently  observed  on  his  lips,  but  a  loud  laugh,  it 
is  said,  seldom  if  ever  escapes  him.  He  is  polite 
and  attentive  to  each  individual  at  table,  and  retires 
after  the  compliments  of  a  few  glasses.  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  combines  in  an  uncommon  degree,  great  dig 
nity  of  manner  with  the  most  pleasing  affability,  but 
possesses  no  striking  marks  of  beauty.  I  learn  from 
the  Virginia  officers,  that  Mrs.  Washington  has  ever 
been  honored  as  a  lady  of  distinguished  goodness, 
possessing  all  the  virtues  which  adorn  her  sex,  amia 
ble  in  her  temper  and  deportment,  full  of  benignity, 
benevolence  and  charity,  seeking  for  objects  of  afflic 
tion  and  poverty,  that  she  may  extend  to  the  suf 
ferers  the  hand  of  kindness  and  relief.  These  surely 
are  the  attributes  which  reveal  a  heart  replete  with 
those  virtues,  which  are  so  appropriate  and  estimable 
in  the  female  character. 

April  13th. — \Ve  have  passed  a  winter  remarka 
bly  mild  and  moderate  ;  since  the  10th  of  January, 
We  have  scarcely  had  a  fall  of  snow,  or  a  frost,  and 
no  severe  weather.  At  the  beginning  of  this  month 
the  weather  was  so  mild  that  vegetation  began  to  ap 
pear;  the  fruit  trees  were  budded  on  the  1st,  and  in 
full  blossom  on  the  10th.  In  Virginia  the  peach  trees 
were  in  blossom  on  the  14th  of  February,  but  a  small 
frost  since,  has,  it  is  feared,  proved  fatal  to  the  fruit. 

\Ath. — I  accompanied  several  gentlemen  to  the 
village  of  Middle  brook,  where  a  number  of  horses 
were  offered  for  sale  ;  I  purchased  a  handsome  young 
bay  for  600  dollars.  This  shows  the  depreciated 
value  of  the  paper  money,  which  we  receive  for 
pay ;  the  horse  could  not  be  valued  at  more  than  80 
dollars  in  silver. 

16/A. — The  officers  of  our  regiment  provided  a 
genteel  entertainment,  and  invited  Generals  Wood- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  193 

ford,  Small  wood,  and  Muhlenburg,  with  all  the  officers 
of  the  Virginia  line,  as  our  guests.  Our  table  was 
furnished  with  an  ample  variety  of  dishes,  and  the 
choicest  liquors  that  could  be  procured. 

20th. — Five  soldiers  were  conducted  to  the  gal 
lows  according  to  their  sentence,  for  the  crimes  of 
desertion  and  robbing  the  inhabitants.  A  detach 
ment  of  troops  and  a  concourse  of  people,  formed 
a  circle  round  tiie  gallows,  and  the  criminals  were 
brought  in  a  cart,  sitting  on  their  coffins,  and  halters 
about  their  necks.  While  in  this  awful  situation, 
trembling  on  the  verge  of  eternity,  three  of  them 
received  a  pardon  from  the  Commander  in  Chief,  who 
is  always  tenderly  disposed  to  spare  the  lives  of  his  sol 
diers.  They  acknowledged  the  justice  of  their  sen 
tence,  and  expressed  the  warmest  thankfulness  and 
gratitude  for  their  merciful  pardon.  The  two  others 
were  obliged  to  submit  to  their  fate  ;  one  of  them  was 
accompanied  to  the  fatal  spot  by  an  affectionate  and 
sympathizing  brother,  which  rendered  the  scene  un 
commonly  distressing,  and  forced  tears  of  compassion 
from  the  eyes  of  numerous  spectators.  They  repeat 
edly  embraced  and  kissed  each  other,  with  all  the 
fervor  of  brotherly  love,  and  would  not  be  separated 
till  the  executioner  was  obliged  to  perform  his  duty, 
when,  with  a  flood  of  tears,  and  mournful  lamenta 
tions,  they  bade  each  other  an  eternal  adieu — the 
criminal,  trembling  under  the  horrors  of  an  untimely 
and  disgraceful  death, — and  the  brother,  overwhelm 
ed  with  sorrow  and  anguish,  for  one  whom  he  held 
most  dear. 

May  1st. — Thirteen  cannon  have  just  announced 
the  arrival  of  M.  Gerard,  the  French  minister,  and 
a  gentleman  of  distinction  from  Spain,  by  the  name 
of  Don  Juan  de  Mirrilliars  ;  and  preparations  are 
making  to  afford  these  foreign  gentlemen  an  oppor 
tunity  of  reviewing  our  army. 

2ci- — The  whole  of  our  army  in  this  quarter  was 
paraded  in  martial  array  in  a  spacious  field,  and  a 
25 


194  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779. 

stage  was  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  spectators.     At  the  signal  of  thirteen 
cannon,  the  great  and  splendid  cavalcade  approached 
in  martial  pomp  and  style.     A  very  beautiful  troop 
of  light  horse,  commanded  by  Major  Lee,  a  Virgi 
nian,  marched  in  front,  then  followed  his  Excellency 
the  Commander  in  Chief  and  his  aids  de  camp,  next 
the  foreign  ministers  and  their  retinue,  and  the  gen 
eral  ofiicers  of  our  army  and  their  aids,  closed  the 
procession.     Having  arrived  on  the  field  of  parade, 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  with  the  foreign  ministers, 
and  general  ofiicers,  passed  in  front  of  the  line  of  the 
army,  from  right  to  left,  in  review,  and  received  the 
military  honors  due  to  their  rank  5  after  which  the 
gentlemen  dismounted  and  retired  to  the  stage,  and 
took   seats   with    Mrs.    Washington,    Mrs.    Greene, 
Mrs.  Knox,  and  a  number  of  other  ladies  who  had 
arrived  in  their  carriages.     The  army  then  perform 
ed  the  field  manoeuvres  and  evolutions,  with  firing 
of  cannon  and  musketry.     The  business  of  the  day 
was  closed  by  the  troops  displaying,  and  marching  in 
front  of  the  stage,  and  paying  the  marching  salute  to 
their   Excellencies.      The   whole   performance  was 
conducted  with  such  marked  regularity  and   preci 
sion,  as  to  reflect  great  honor  on  the  character  of  our 
army,  and  afford  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  the 
spectators,  the  highest  degree  of  satisfaction.     On  this 
occasion  we  cannot  but  pride  ourselves  on  the  con 
spicuous  figure  exhibited  by  our  Commander  in  Chief. 
While  mounted  on  his  noble  bay  charger,  his  stature 
appears  remarkable,  and  being  a  good  horseman,  he 
displays  a  lofty  carriage,  and  benign   dignity  of  de 
meanor,  and  I  hope  not  to  incur  the  charge  of  undue 
partiality,  when  I   say,  his  appearance  was  incom 
parably  more  majestic  and  dignified  than  either  of  his 
illustrious  visitors. 

14/A. — Our  brigade  was  paraded  for  the  purpose 
of  being  reviewed  by  General  Washington  and  a 
number  of  Indian  chiefs.  His  Excellency,  with  his 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  193 


usual  dignity,  followed  by  his  mulatto  servant 
riding  a  beautiful  grey  steed,  passed  in  front  of  the 
line  and  received  the  salute.  He  was  accompanied 
by  a  singular  group  of  savages,  whose  appearance 
was  beyond  description  ludicrous.  Their  horses 
were  of  the  meanest  kind,  some  of  them  destitute  of 
saddles,  and  old  lines  were  used  for  bridles.  Their 
personal  decorations  were  equally  farcical,  having 
their  faces  painted  of  various  colors,  jewels  suspend 
ed  from  their  ears  and  nose,  their  heads  without  cov 
ering  except  tufts  of  hair  on  the  crown,  and  some  of 
them  wore  dirty  blankets  over  their  shoulders  waving 
in  the  wind.  In  short,  they  exhibited  a  novel  and 
truly  disgusting  spectacle.  But  his  Excellency  deems 
it  good  policy  to  pay  some  attention  to  this  tribe  of 
the  wilderness,  and  to  convince  them  of  the  strength 
and  discipline  of  our  army,  that  they  may  be  en 
couraged,  if  disposed  to  be  friendly,  or  deterred  from 
aggression,  if  they  should  become  hostile  to  our  coun 
try. 

28th.  —  The  Baron  Steuben  reviewed  and  inspect 
ed  our  brigade.  The  troops  were  paraded  in  a 
single  line  with  shouldered  arms,  every  officer  in  his 
particular  station.  The  Baron  first  reviewed  the 
line  in  this  position,  passing  in  front  with  a  scruti 
nizing  eye,  after  which  he  took  into  his  hand  the  mus 
kets  and  accoutrements  of  every  soldier,  examining 
them  with  particular  accuracy  and  precision,  ap 
plauding  or  condemning,  according  to  the  condition 
in  which  he  found  them.  He  required  that  the  mus 
ket  and  bayonet  should  exhibit  the  brightest  polish  : 
not  a  spot  of  rust,  or  defect  in  any  part,  could  elude 
his  vigilance.  He  inquired  also  into  the  conduct  of 
the  officers  towards  their  men,  censuring  every  fault 
and  applauding  every  meritorious  action.  Next  he 
required  of  me,  as  surgeon,  a  list  of  the  sick,  with  a 
particular  statement  of  their  accommodations  and  mode 
of  treatment,  and  even  visited  some  of  the  sick  in  their 
Cabins.  The  Baron  has  sustained  the  office  of  aid 


196  MILITARY    JOURNAL,,  1779. 

de  camp  to  his  Majesty  the  King  of  Prussia,  and  is 
now  Inspector  General  with  the  rank  of  Major  Gen 
eral  in  our  army.  He  appears  to  be  about  fifty  years 
of  age,  and  is  venerable  and  dignified  in  his  deport 
ment,  rich  and  elegant  in  dress,  having  a  splendid 
medal  of  gold  and  diamonds  designating  the  order  of 
fidelity,  suspended  at  his  breast.  He  is  held  in  uni 
versal  respect,  and  considered  as  a  valuable  acquisi 
tion  to  our  country.  He  is  distinguished  for  his 
profound  knowledge  of  tactics,  his  ability  to  reform 
and  discipline  an  army — for  his  affectionate  attach 
ment  to  a  good  and  faithful  soldier,  and  his  utter 
aversion  to  every  appearance  of  insubordination  and 
neglect  of  duty.  The  continental  army  has  improv 
ed  with  great  rapidity  under  his  inspection  and  re 
view. 

30th. — Dined  with  Major  Storer,  at  his  quarters 
in  the  country.  Spent  a  few  hours  at  General  St. 
Clair's  quarters,  with  Dr.  McKinzie  and  Major  Dunn, 
and  called  on  Colonel  Scammel  at  the  Adjutant  Gen- 
eraPs  office. 

June  Wth. — Smith's  Clove  is  a  fine  level  plain 
of  rich  land,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  high  moun 
tains  on  the  west  side  of  Hudson  river.  It  is  about 
fourteen  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  garrison  at  West 
Point,  and  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  high  lands. 
The  few  families  who  reside  here  find  a  profitable  em 
ployment  in  cultivating  the  fertile  soil.  Our  brigade 
marched  from  quarters  at  Middle  brook  on  the  2d 
instant,  and  arrived  at  Morristown,  where  we  receiv 
ed  orders  to  leave  all  our  heavy  baggage,  and  pro 
ceed  with  all  possible  expedition,  as  the  enemy  was 
advancing  towards  West  Point.  Marched  rapidly 
through  Troy,  Pompton  and  Ringwood,  and  on  the 
7th  instant,  encamped  in  the  Clove.  By  a  number 
of  deserters  from  the  enemy,  information  has  been 
received,  that  the  greater  part  of  the  British  army  is 
advancing,  and  is  now  near  King's  ferry,  only  thirteen 
miles  below  West  Point ;  and  that  part  of  their  fleet 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779.  197 

is  proceeding  up  the  river  :  their  object  is  supposed 
to  be  the  garrison  at  West  Point.  For  the  security 
of  this  very  important  post,  General  Washington  has 
arranged  his  army  as  follows.  Three  divisions  con 
sisting  of  the  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania 
troops,  commanded  by  Major  Generals  Lord  Stirling, 
Baron  de  Kalb,  and  Major  General  St.  Clair,  form 
the  right  wing,  and  is  commanded  by  General 
Putnam  as  the  senior  Major  General,  and  posted 
at  Smith's  Clove.  All  the  New  England  troops,  in 
cluding  the  militia,  compose  the  left  wing,  and  are 
so  distributed  at  West  Point  and  its  vicinity,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  as  to  guard  all  the  passes 
leading  to  the  garrison.  Our  army  thus  posted  is 
supposed  to  be  adequate  to  the  defence  of  the  garri 
son  against  all  the  force  which  the  enemy  can  bring 
in  array  against  it ;  and  such  is  the  confidence  among 
our  officers,  that  many  of  them  express  a  strong 
desire  that  the  royal  troops  would  afford  an  oppor 
tunity  to  try  our  strength  and  courage.  Should  this 
be  the  event,  the  struggle  must  indeed  be  violent, 
and  the  slaughter  immense.  The  British  commander 
however,  not  deeming  it  prudent  to  hazard  a  battle, 
after  a  few  days  retired  to  New  York. 

12th. — Two  officers  of  our  regiment  have  just  had 
occasion  to  adjust  an  affair  of  honor.  Captain  E. 
had  given  offence  to  Captain  H.  and  a  challenge  en 
sued.  Captain  E.  was  well  apprized  that  if  the  ball 
from  the  pistol  of  his  antagonist  should  pass  through 
his  heart,  it  would  produce  immediate  death,  of 
course  it  was  most  prudent  to  decline  the  hazardous 
combat.  But  the  consequence  is,  he  subjected  him 
self  to  a  contest  of  a  less  honorable  nature.  His 
antagonist  inflicted  the  chastisement  of  the  horse 
whip.  This  he  supported  with  wonderful  fortitude 
and  magnanimity ;  apprehending  probably,  that  pow 
der  and  ball  might  prove  more  disastrous  than  the 
chastisement  which  he  had  received.  But  his  brother 
officers  treated  him  with  contempt,  and  threatened 


198  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779. 

to  hoot  him  out  of  camp.  There  is  a.  kind  of  me 
chanical  courage  excited  by  the  necessity  of  the 
occasion,  which  may  push  a  coward  to  venture  on  an 
act  of  heroism.  This  fact  was  now  exemplified,  for 
Captain  E.  reduced  to  the  alternative  of  retrieving 
his  character  in  a  spirited  manner,  or  of  quitting  the 
army  in  disgrace,  came  to  the  desperate  resolution 
of  deciding  his  fate  hy  facing  his  bold  antagonist 
in  single  combat.  The  usual  arrangements  being 
made,  my  services  as  surgeon  were  held  in  requisi 
tion.  The  parties  took  their  stand  at  ten  paces,  and 
each  discharged  his  pistol.  But  behold,  a  harmless 
explosion,,  no  blood  shed,  not  even  a  hair  of  their 
heads  injured.  But  the  combatants  conducted  like 
gentlemen  of  honor,  of  course  harmony  and  mutual 
friendship  were  restored.  Captain  E.  has  the  best 
cause  of  triumph,  for  he  has  rescued  his  character 
from  the  stigma  of  paltroon,  to  an  honorable  standing 
among  the  gentlemen  oflicers. 

14th. — I  rode  with  Major  Meriweather  to  West 
Point  ;  took  our  route  through  the  woods  over 
abrupt  and  rocky  mountains,  almost  impassable  for 
our  horses.  Spent  an  hour  at  General  Parsons's 
head  quarters,  then  crossed  the  North  river  to  Fish- 
kill.  The  next  day  we  recrossed  at  Fishkill  land 
ing,  and  rode  to  New  Windsor,  thence  we  visited 
my  friend  Colonel  Mai  com  at  his  seat  fourteen  miles 
in  the  country.  This  gentleman,  having  resigned 
his  office  in  the  army,  is  beautifully  situated  on  a 
farm  west  of  the  Hudson,  retired  from  the  bustle  of 
war,  and  devoted  to  domestic  affairs  and  rural  enjoy 
ments.  We  spent  the  night  with  this  agreeable 
family,  and  Mrs.  Malcom  received,  in  the  evening, 
the  visits  of  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  We 
returned  to  our  camp  the  next  morning,  and  found 
the  brigade  under  marching  orders. 

16/A. — We  marched  from  Smith's  Clove  through 
a  thick  wilderness,  and  over  the  prodigious  high 
land  mountains.  My  curiosity  was  excited  by  a 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  199 

vast  number  of  huge  rocks,  marked  with  fissures 
and  cavities,  occasioned  by  some  stupendous  power 
beyond  our  comprehension.  These,  with  various 
brooks,  winding  in  every  direction,  among  rude  clifts 
and  precipices,  afford  a  singular  and  romantrc  land 
scape.  Our  path  was  narrow  and  rugged,  and 
probably  will  not  again  be  traversed  but  by  savages 
and  wild  beasts.  We  arrived  here  in  the  evening, 
without  our  baggage,  and  were  obliged  to  seek  lodg 
ings  among  our  friends.  The  next  day  dined  with 
Dr.  I.  Thomas,  and  accompanined  him  to  General 
Patterson's  quarters,  where  we  spent  the  evening, 
and  I  was  introduced  to  Major  Haskill,  aid  de  camp 
to  General  Patterson.  He  is  a  native  of  Rochester, 
and  Dr.  Thomas  of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts. 

20th. — I  have  lately  been  favored  with  a  letter 
from  my  friend  Dr.  D.  Townsend,  who  is  a  surgeon 
in  the  military  hospital  at  Providence,  state  of  Rhode 
Island.  He  invites  me  to  accept  of  the  office  of 
surgeon  to  the  Massachusetts  regiment  commanded 
by  Colonel  Henry  Jackson,  which  is  now  stationed 
at  that  place.  My  principal  inducement  to  ex 
change  my  present  station,  for  the  proposed  new  ap 
pointment,  is,  that  Colonel  Jackson  and  all  his  officers 
are  from  my  native  state,  and  there  is  a  prospect  of 
receiving  some  compensation  in  clothing  and  other 
articles  to  which  I  could  have  no  claim  while  serving 
in  the  Virginia  line.  It  is  proper,  and  on  many 
accounts  convenient,  that  officers  should  serve  in  the 
line  of  their  own  state  ;  and  though  I  have  enjoyed 
the  most  friendly  intercourse,  and  numerous  kind 
favors  from  the  Virginians,  yet  I  cannot  but  prefer 
the  manners  and  habits  of  the  New  Englanders. 

2lst. — The  officers  of  our  regiment  invited  a 
select  number  of  officers  of  the  Pennsylvania  line  to 
dine  on  sturgeon,  a  large  fish  which  Major  Meri- 
weather  caught  in  the  North  river.  This  fish  is  a 
favorite  with  the  Dutch,  at  Albany,  and  is  on  that 
account  by  some  called  Albany  beef ;  but  in  my  view 


200  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779. 

it  is  worse  than  horse  beef,  and  it  was  merely  an 
auxiliary  at  our  table. 

24th. — I  have  just  had  the  satisfaction,  with  a  num 
ber  of  gentlemen,  of  viewing  a  remarkably  large 
fat  ox,  which  has  been  presented  by  some  gentlemen 
in  Connecticut,  to  his  Excellency  General  Washing 
ton.  He  is  six  feet  seven  inches  high,  and  weighs 
on  the  hoof  three  thousand  five  hundred  pounds,  the 
largest  animal  I  ever  beheld. 

Having  resolved  to  resign  my  commission  in  Colo 
nel  Gibson's  regiment,  I  shall  in  a  few  days  com 
mence  my  journey  to  Providence,  and  join  the  regi 
ment  commanded  by  Colonel  H.  Jackson.  Colonel 
Gibson  has  favored  me  with  a  complimentary  certi 
ficate  of  my  services.  It  is  with  sincere  regret  that 
I  bid  adieu  to  those  associates,  for  whom  I  have  a 
strong  attachment. 

July  1st. — Engaged  to  spend  this  evening  with 
General  Patterson,  and  Dr.  Crowell,  and  to  breakfast 
with  the  Reverend  Mr.  A  very  and  Mr.  Hitchcock, 
and  shall  immediately  set  off  for  Providence,  in  com 
pany  with  Dr.  Skinner. 

I  left  West  Point,  in  company  with  Dr.  Skinner, 
on  the  2d  instant,  and  on  the  3d,  arrived  at  Crom- 
pond,  where  my  favorite  young  horse  was  seized  with 
the  horse  distemper,  and  I  was  put  to  the  cruel  ne 
cessity  of  disposing  of  him  for  not  one  half  his  real 
value.  Pursued  our  journey  through  Litchfield  and 
Farmington,  in  Connecticut,  and  the  next  day  reach 
ed  Hartford,  a  well  built  handsome  town  on  Connec 
ticut  river,  and  the  capital  of  that  state.  Having 
crossed  over  to  East  Hartford,  we  found  the  whole 
country  in  a  state  of  alarm  in  consequence  of  the 
enemy's  having  landed  at  New  Haven,  and  their 
committing  depredations  among  the  inhabitants.  A 
spirit  of  revenge  seemed  to  pervade  the  whole  coun 
try,  and  the  militia  were  marching  from  all  quarters 
to  encounter  and  arrest  the  progress  of  the  invading 
foe.  We  passed  through  Windham,  and  arrived 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779.  201 

at  this  place  on  the  8th  instant.  Here  I  had  an  in 
terview  with  my  old  friends  Drs.  Brown  and  Town- 
send,  surgeons  of  the  hospital.  I  was  by  Dr  .Townsend 
introduced  to  Colonel  Jackson,  arid  his  officers,  and 
I  commenced  my  duty  by  visiting  the  sick  soldiers 
of  the  regiment.  The  field  officers  of  this  regiment 
are  Colonel  Henry  Jackson,  Lieutenant  Colonel  David 
Cobb,  and  Major  Lemuel  Trescott.  It  is  now  learnt 
that  the  party  of  the  enemy  that  landed  at  New 
Haven,  was  commanded  by  Governor  Tryon,  and 
consisted  of  three  thousand  men.  They  met  with 
a  powerful  resistance  from-  the  militia,  which  occa 
sioned  skirmishing,  and  a  considerable  loss  on  each 
side.  After  plundering  the  inhabitants  of  Fairfield 
and  Norwalk,  they  maliciously  destroyed  both  these 
flourishing  towns,  with  their  houses  of  religious  wor 
ship,  by  a  general  conflagration. 

13th. — Dined  with  Colonel  Jackson,  and  in  the 
afternoon  rode  with  Major  Trescott  to  Pawtuxet, 
a  very  pleasant  ride  of  about  five  miles. 

21st. — By  express  from  General  Washington  to 
General  Gates,  we  are  informed  of  a  glorious  victory, 
which  a  detachment  of  our  army,  commanded  by  the 
intrepid  General  Wayne,  obtained  over  the  enemy  at 
Stony  point,  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  North 
river.  In  consequence  of  this  intelligence  thirteen 
cannon  have  been  fired  at  the  several  posts  in  this 
department.  Extract  from  General  Gates'  orders. 

Providence,  July  2lst,  1779. 

"The  General  congratulates  the  army  on  the 
glorious  success  of  Brigadier  General  Wayne,  and 
the  gallant  troops  under  his  command,  in  taking  by 
assault  the  enemy's  fortified  post  at  Stony  point,  and 
with  the  point  of  the  bayonet  alone,  forcing  the  gar 
rison  to  surrender  at  discretion,  not  one  man  escap 
ing.  This  signal  and  brilliant  victory  was  gained 
with  the  loss  of  but  fifteen  men  killed,  and  the  gen 
eral  and  eighty  three  wounded,  while  on  the  part 
26 


202  MILITARY    JOUUNAL,  1779. 

of  the  enemy,  five  hundred  soldiers  and  twenty 
officers  were  killed,  wounded  and  taken  prisoners, 
with  all  their  cannon,  arms,  military  stores  and  pro 


visions/7 


30th. — Dined  at  head  quarters  with  a  number  of 
gentlemen,  was  introduced  to  General  Gates  by  Dr. 
Brown.  General  Gates  is  the  commander  in  chief 
in  this  department ;  his  capture  of  General  Bur- 
goyne  at  Saratoga,  in  1777,  has  given  him  eclat  and 
popularity  as  a  brave  and  skilful  warrior.  He  dis 
plays  the  complaisant  manners  of  a  gentleman ;  in  con 
versation  he  is  affable  and  interesting,  but  appears 
better  versed  in  military  tactics  than  in  subjects 
appertaining  to  general  science.  He  adopted  the 
profession  of  arms  in  his  early  days,  and  his  prowess 
and  valor,  as  well  as  his  zeal  and  partiality  for  our 
country,  are  incontestably  established. 

Congress  have  recently  passed  the  following  re 
solve  in  favor  of  an  American  heroine  :  "  that  Mar 
garet  Corbin,  who  was  wounded  and  disabled  at  the 
attack  of  Fort  Washington,  whilst  she  heroically  filled 
the  post  of  her  husband,  who  was  killed  by  her  side, 
serving  a  piece  of  artillery,  do  receive  during  her 
natural  life,  or  the  continuance  of  the  said  disability, 
the  one  half  of  the  monthly  pay  drawn  by  a  soldier 
in  the  service  of  these  states  ;  and  that  she  now 
receive,  out  of  the  public  stores,  one  complete  suit  of 
clothes,  or  the  value  thereof  in  money/' 

Mr.  T.  an  ensign  in  our  regiment,  has  for  some 
time  discovered  symptoms  of  mental  derangement. 
He  is  frequently  strolling  abroad,  and  amusing  people 
with  his  wit  and  humor,  or  arresting  attention  by  his 
solemn  appeals  to  the  Deity.  Yesterday  he  intruded 
himself  at  General  Gates'  head  quarters,  and  after 
some  amusing  conversation,  he  put  himself  in  the  atti 
tude  of  devotion,  and  prayed  that  God  would  pardon 
General  Gates  for  endeavoring  to  supersede  that  god 
like  man  Washington.  The  General  appeared  to  be 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  203 

much  disturbed,  and  directed  Mr.  Pierce,  his  aid  de 
camp,  to  take  him  away.  Whether  this  address  pro 
voked  in  the  General  a  consciousness  of  the  fact  is 
uncertain,  but  the  subject  is  of  such  a  delicate  nature 
that  no  man  in  his  sober  senses  would  have  broached 
it  to  him. 

August. — The  British  a  few  weeks  since  detached 
a  force  from  Halifax,  and  established  a  post  on  Periob- 
scot  river,  in  the  Province  of  Maine.  Their  force 
is  supposed  to  consist  of  about  one  thousand  men, 
under  command  of  Brigadier  General  Maclean,  with 
several  armed  vessels,  which  occupy  the  river.  This 
invasion  of  our  territory  has  excited  the  greatest  in 
dignation,  and  all  classes  of  people  are  burning  with 
an  ardent  desire  of  revenge.  The  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  have  planned  an  expedition,  for  the 
purpose  of  driving  the  invading  foe  from  our  shores. 
Such  was  their  zeal  and  confidence  of  success,  that 
it  is  said  the  General  Court  neither  consulted  any 
experienced  military  character,  nor  desired  the  assis 
tance  of  any  continental  troops  on  this  important 
enterprize.  Thus  taking  on  themselves  the  undivid 
ed  responsibility,  and  reserving  for  their  own  heads, 
all  the  laurels  to  be  derived  from  the  anticipated 
conquest.  They  drafted  one  thousand  five  hundred 
militia,  and  appointed  General  Lovell,  who  acquired 
some  reputation  on  Rhode  Island,  under  General 
Sullivan,  the  last  year,  to  command  the  expedition. 
They  obtained  of  Congress  the  loan  of  the  United 
States  frigate  Warren,  of  thirty  two  guns,  and  with 
an  unprecedented  spirit  of  enterprize  and  industry, 
no  less  than  nineteen  continental,  state,  and  private 
ships,  and  more  than  twenty  transports,  were  spee 
dily  equipped  and  prepared  to  co-operate  with  the 
land  forces  destined  for  this  service.  With  a  lauda 
ble  spirit  of  patriotism,  and  animated  by  the  flatter 
ing  prospect  of  success,  thirty  masters  of  merchant 
vessels  in  Newburyport,  honorably  volunteered  their 
services  as  common  seamen.  Captain  Saltonstall  was 


204  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

appointed  commodore  of  the  fleet,  and  took  his 
station  on  board  the  Warren  frigate.  This  combined 
force  sailed  about  the  20th  of  July  on  their  destined 
service,  but  having  some  reason  to  apprehend  a 
failure  of  their  enterprize,  the  General  Court  have 
applied  to  General  Gates  for  permission  for  Colonel 
Jackson's  regiment  to  reinforce  General  Lovell,  to 
which  he  has  assented,  and  we  are  accordingly  under 
marching  orders. 

Colonel  Henry  Jackson,  who  commands  our  regi 
ment,  is  a  native  of  Boston ;  he  is  very  respectable  as 
a  commander,  is  gentlemanly  in  his  manners,  strongly 
attached  to  military  affairs,  and  takes  a  peculiar  pride 
in  the  discipline  and  martial  appearance  of  his  regi 
ment.  Many  of  his  officers  are  from  Boston  and  its 
vicinity,  they  appear  in  handsome  style,  and  are  am 
bitious  to  display  their  taste  for  military  life,  and 
their  zeal  to  contend  with  the  enemies  of  their  coun 
try.  Colonel  Jackson,  with  his  regiment,  acquired 
reputation  by  their  gallantry  in  the  battle  on  Rhode 
Island,  under  General  Sullivan.  Our  regiment  con 
sists  of  about  four  hundred  men,  in  complete  uniform, 
well  disciplined,  and  not  inferior  to  any  in  the  con 
tinental  army.  We  commenced  a  forced  march  from 
Providence  on  the  10th,  and  completed  the  forty 
miles  in  twenty  four  hours.  A  severe  rain  all  night 
did  not  much  impede  our  march,  but  the  troops  were 
broken  down  with  fatigue.  We  reached  Boston  neck 
at  sun  rising,  and  near  the  entrance  of  the  neck  is 
a  tavern  having  for  its  sign  a  representation  of  a 
globe,  with  a  man  in  the  act  of  struggling  to  get 
through  it ;  his  head  and  shoulders  were  out,  his 
arms  extended,  and  the  rest  of  his  body  enclosed  in 
the  globe.  On  a  label  from  his  mouth  was  written, 
"  Oh !  how  shall  I  get  through  this  world  ?"  This  was 
read  by  the  soldiers,  and  one  of  them  exclaimed, 
66  list,  d — n  you,  list,  and  you  will  soon  get  through 
this  world,  our  regiment  will  all  be  through  it  in  an 
hour  or  two,  if  we  don't  halt  by  the  way." 


MILITARY    JOUllNAL,  1779.  205 

We  are  treated  by  the  gentlemen  of  this  town 
with  great  attention  and  respect.  They  have  gen 
erously  presented  to  Colonel  Jackson  and  the  officers 
of  his  regiment  a  hogshead  of  Jamaica  spirits,  and  a 
cask  of  wine.  For  the  soldiers  they  have  collected 
a  liberal  sum  of  money,  which  is  distributed  among 
them.  A  public  dinner  is  to  be  provided  at  the 
Bunch  of  Grapes  tavern  for  the  officers,  before  our 
departure.  The  transports  are  in  preparation  to 
receive  our  troops  on  board. 

On  the  14th,  our  regiment  marched  through  the 
town  to  the  Long  wharf,  and  embarked  on  board  the 
transports,  receiving  as  we  passed  through  King 
street  the  cheers  of  the  inhabitants.  After  the  regi 
ment  had  embarked,  the  officers,  according  to  previ 
ous  arrangement,  returned  to  the  Bunch  of  Grapes 
tavern,  where  a  liberal  and  elegant  entertainment 
had  been  provided,  and  where  we  were  politely 
received  by  a  number  of  respectable  gentlemen  of 
the  town.  Having  dined  and  enjoyed  a  number  of 
songs  over  the  cheering  glass,  wishing  success  to  the 
Penobscot  expedition,  we  repaired  on  board  our 
respective  transports,  awaiting  a  fair  wind  for  our 
voyage.  Our  transports  are  the  Rising  Empire,  a 
brig  carrying  eight  guns,  two  sloops,  and  one  schooner. 
Our  convoy  is  the  ship  Renown,  of  fourteen  guns,  and 
a  brig  of  sixteen  guns.  About  four  o'clock  on  the 
15th  instant,  the  Renown,  our  convoy,  fired  her  signal 
guns  for  sailing,  on  which  our  little  fleet  weighed 
anchor,  and  after  giving  three  cheers,  which  were 
returned  by  a  concourse  of  people  on  the  wharves, 
and  by  a  French  ship  in  the  harbor,  we  sailed  after 
our  convoy,  but  dropped  anchor  near  Castle  William, 
by  reason  of  contrary  wind. 

17 th. — In  the  evening  we  obeyed  the  signal  guns, 
and  were  beating  against  contrary  wind  off  Cape  Ann 
till  the  19th,  when  we  fell  in  with  a  small  boat,  off 
the  Isle  of  Shoals,  which  had  been  despatched  with 
the  unwelcome  intelligence  that  our  fleet  at  Penob- 


206  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779. 

scot  had  been  attacked  by  the  British,  and  was  totally 
defeated  and  destroyed,  and  that  our  land  forces 
under  General  Lovell,  were  also  entirely  defeated,  and 
dispersed.  Orders  were  received  for  our  fleet  to  put 
into  Portsmouth  harbor,  for  safety,  as  several  British 
ships  were  supposed  to  be  in  pursuit  of  us. 

2lst. — Our  regiment  disembarked  and  encamped 
at  Kittery ;  being  Sunday,  I  accompanied  several 
of  our  officers  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Hemmenway's 
church  ;  he  is  a  sensible  and  animating  preacher,  dis 
playing  considerable  eloquence,  and  much  orthodoxy. 
In  his  fervent  prayers  he  was  not  forgetful  of  the 
calamities  of  war,  and  the  righteous  cause  in  which 
we  are  engaged.  Here  we  have  a  confirmation  of 
the  unfortunate  failure  of  the  Penobscot  expedition, 
which  is  a  source,  not  only  of  universal  regret,  but  of 
infinite  chagrin,  and  mortification,  among  all  who  had 
been  concerned  in  the  plan. 

•August. — Having  received  orders  to  march  to  Fal- 
mouth,  (now  Portland,)  left  Kittery  on  the  23d  instant, 
and  on  the  27th,  entered  this  town  in  martial  order,  and 
were  received  with  marks  of  the  greatest  joy  and  sat 
isfaction,  as  the  inhabitants  were  under  serious  appre 
hensions  of  a  visit  from  the  British.  We  behold  here 
only  the  relics  of  a  town,  which  a  few  years  since 
was  very  respectable  and  flourishing.  It  was  the 
capital  of  the  Province  of  Maine,  and  enjoyed  the  hap 
py  prospect  of  becoming  one  of  the  most  important 
seaports  in  New  England.  But  in  October,  1775, 
the  inhabitants  opposed  the  lading  of  a  British  vessel 
with  ship  timber,  which  so  enraged  Admiral  Graves, 
that  he  sent  Captain  Mowat.,  with  several  ships  of 
war,  demanding  of  the  inhabitants  to  deliver  up  all 
their  artillery  and  small  arms.  On  refusal  to  comply 
with  this  demand,  the  enemy  opened  a  severe  can 
nonade,  which  soon  set  fire  to  the  town,  and  no  less 
than  four  hundred  and  eight  houses,  stores  and  other 
buildings,  were  consumed  to  ashes.  A  large  number 
of  seamen  and  mariners  were  landed,  but  the  people. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  207 

having  collected  in  considerable  force,  "compelled  the 
enemy  to  retreat  to  their  boats,  with  the  loss  of  several 
men. 

By  several  gentlemen  just  returned  from  Penob- 
scot,  I  have  obtained  the  following  particulars  re 
specting  the  failure  of  the  expedition.  On  the  arrival 
of  General  Lovell,  instead  of  one  thousand  five  hun 
dred  militia,  nine  hundred  only  could  be  collected  ;  it 
was  resolved  however,  in  a  council  of  war,  to  make 
an  attempt  to  achieve  the  object  of  the  expedition  ; 
accordingly,  on  the  28th  of  July,  the  militia  with 
about  three  hundred  marines  were  disembarked,  and 
soon  effected  a  landing  under  a  height  which  rose 
almost  perpendicularly  from  the  banks  of  the  river, 
on  the  summit  of  which,  the  enemy's  advanced  guard 
was  posted  under  cover  of  a  wood.  Our  militia, 
were  opposed  by  about  an  equal  number  of  the  enemy, 
whom  they  bravely  encountered  and  drove  within 
their  works  ;  but  we  suffered  a  loss  of  several  officers 
of  merit,  and  about  one  hundred  of  the  militia  and 
marines  were  killed  and  wounded.  It  now  became 
a  subject  of  consideration,  whether  it  was  expedient 
to  storm  the  enemy's  principal  works,  but  in  a  coun 
cil  it  was  decided  that  our  force  was  inadequate  to 
the  object.  It  was  at  this  juncture  supposed  that  by 
a  vigorous  co-operation  of  our  navy,  a  complete  vic 
tory  might  have  been  obtained,  and  the  most  urgent 
and  pressing  entreaties  were  made  to  Commodore 
Saltonstall  for  the  purpose,  but  he  declined,  and  con 
tinued  in  a  state  of  pusillanimous  inactivity,  thereby 
proclaiming  himself  totally  incompetent  to  the  impor 
tant  trust  with  which,  most  unfortunately,  he  had  been 
invested. 

On  the  14th  instant,  Sir  George  Collier,  with  a 
sixty  four  gun  ship,  and  five  frigates,  arrived  from 
New  York.  General  Lovell,  on  receiving  this  intel 
ligence,  ordered  all  his  troops,  with  the  artillery  and 
baggage,  to  be  embarked  on  board  the  transports, 
which  with  our  whole  fleet  moved  up  the  Penobscot 


208          MI  LIT  A  UV  JOURNAL,  1779. 

river,  pursued  by  the  British.  On  the  near  approach 
of  the  enemy?  our  vessels  were  abandoned  ;  two  of 
them  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  the  remainder 
were  burnt  and  blown  up.  General  Lovell  and 
General  Peleg  Wadsworth,  the  second  in  command, 
both  of  whom  have  the  reputation  of  brave  men,  now 
dispensed  with  all  command  of  the  troops,  as  did 
Saltonstall  of  the  seamen.  The  soldiers  separated 
from  their  officers,  and  every  individual  was  seeking 
his  own  safety,  wandering  in  the  wilderness,  suffering 
fatigue,  hunger,  and  vexation,  till  after  much  difficulty 
they  reached  the  settlements  on  the  Kennebec ;  a  few 
of  their  number  indeed  actually  perished  in  the  wil 
derness.  Thus  disgracefully  has  ended  the  famous 
Penobscot  expedition,  which,  had  a  competent  force 
been  provided,  might  have  terminated  to  the  glory  of 
Massachusetts.  Those  concerned  in  the  plan  or  its 
execution,  a  few  individuals  excepted,  were  publicly 
execrated.  The  expense  attending  the  expedition  is 
immense.  The  fleet  was  invaluable,  and  its  loss  is 
altogether  irreparable.  It  was  extremely  fortunate 
for  our  regiment  that  we  were  detained  two  or  three- 
days  on  our  passage  by  contrary  winds ;  had  there 
been  no  impediment  to  our  voyage,  we  must  inevita 
bly  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

September  3d. — Two  armed  vessels,  accompanied 
by  two  others,  being  perceived  approaching  this  har 
bor,  excited  a  great  degree  of  consternation  among 
the  inhabitants,  but  it  was  soon  ascertained  to  be  our 
two  continental  frigates,  the  Boston,  and  the  Dean, 
returning  from  a  cruise  with  two  prizes  of  very  con 
siderable  value,  and  having  on  board  two  hundred 
soldiers  for  the  British  army,  and  stores  and  goods  to 
a  large  amount. 

The  inhabitants  of  this  town  have  shown  us  nume 
rous  marks  of  respect  and  generous  hospitality.  A 
respectable  committee  of  the  town  have  invited  our 
officers  to  a  tavern  to  partake  of  a  treat  of  punch 
and  wine,  in  company  with  a  number  of  respectable 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  209 

inhabitants,  and  we  experience  many  other  polite 
civilities,  indicating  a  disposition  to  contribute  to  the 
comfort  and  happiness  of  those  who  are  serving  the 
great  cause  of  our  common  country.  Orders  are  now 
received  from  General  Gates  for  our  regiment  to  re 
turn  immediately  to  Boston. 

Commenced  our  march  from  Falmouth,  on  the  7th 
instant,  passed  through  Scarborough,  Kennebunk  and 
York,  to  Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire.  At  York, 
all  the  officers  of  our  regiment  were  politely  invited 
to  an  elegant  breakfast,  with  the  genteel  and  hospi 
table  family  of  Mr.  Sewall.  Having  crossed  the  ferry 
at  Portsmouth,  on  the  10th,  we  encamped  on  the  com 
mon.  A  number  of  gentlemen  of  this  town  treated 
us  with  buckets  of  punch  at  the  ferry  way,  and  as  we 
passed  through  the  streets.  This  attention  was  ex 
tremely  grateful  during  the  heat  and  fatigue  of  the 
day.  We  had  the  satisfaction  of  visiting  the  seventy 
four  gun  ship  on  the  stocks  near  this  town, — she  will 
be  ready  for  sea  in  June  next.  This  is  the  first 
seventy  four  ever  built  in  America.  On  the  12th 
crossed  the  ferry  at  Newbury,  and  marched  to  Ips 
wich  Hamlet,  passing  through  Salem,  we  reached 
Cambridge  on  the  14th,  and  encamped  on  the  com 
mon.  Accompanied  a  number  of  ladies  and  gentle 
men  to  view  the  colleges,  and  were^admitted  (o  the 
library  room  and  museum.  From  Cambridge  we 
marched  to  Dorchester  point,  where  we  embarked  in 
boats,  crossed  over  to  the  castle  and  encamped.  On 
the  18th  went  with  Colonel  Jackson  to  Boston  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  a  Mr.  Deshon,  a  brother  mason. 
A  procession  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  of  the  breth 
ren  preceded  the  corpse,  and  added  greatly  to  the 
solemnity  of  the  occasion. 

Walking  in  the  street,  I  met  with  James  Otis,  Esq. 
He  has  for  some  time  labored  under  an  unhappy  men 
tal  derangement.  I  had  no  expectation  that  I  should 
be  recognized  by  him,  but  he  accosted  me  in  a  very 
familiar  manner  by  my  Christian  name,  and  inquired 
27 


210  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779. 

about  my  connexions.     He  was   inquisitive  respect 
ing  the  affairs  of  the  army,  and  wished  to  be  in 
formed    whether  I  had  on  any    occasion  been   ex 
posed  to  personal  danger,  and  whether  my  courage 
had  failed  me.     A  friend  related  to  me  the  following 
anecdote,  which  he  received  from  0.  W.   Esq.  who 
was  present  on  the  occasion.     Mr.  Otis  invited  seve 
ral  respectable  gentlemen  to  dinner ;    in  carving  at 
table,  he  observed  a  fish  not  sufficiently  boiled,  which 
drew  from  him  some  expressions  of  disapprobation. 
His  lady  retorted  with  an  air  of  ill  humor.     Mr. 
Otis,  wishing  to  avoid  altercation,  waved  his  rebuke 
till  dinner  was  finished,  when  he  rendered  thanks  to 
God,  that  among  other  favors,  the  guests  had  escaped 
the  danger  of  having  their  noses  snapped  off  at  table. 
A  particular  account  of  the  brilliant  achievement  in 
the  capture  of  the  fortress  at  Stony  point,  by  General 
Wayne,  has  been  obtained.     Stony  point  is  a  strongly 
fortified  post  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hudson,  near 
King's  ferry.     The  possession  of  this  post  is  of  vast  im 
portance  to  either  army,  as  it  completely  commands 
the  great  road,  and  the  ferry  way  which  affords  com 
munication  between  the  middle  and  eastern   states. 
This  fortress  has  lately  been  visited  by  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  in  person,  and  by  his  orders  strengthened  and 
rendered,  as  supposed,  entirely  defensible.     General 
Washington  was  extremely  desirous  to  dislodge  the 
enemy  from  this  position,  and  to  Brigadier  General 
WTayne  he  intrusted  the  hazardous  enterprize.     At 
the  head  of  his  detachment  of  light  infantry,  consist 
ing  of  one  thousand  two  hundred,  he  marched  about 
fourteen   miles,  reached   the  vicinity  of  the  fort  at 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  July  the  16th,  and 
instantly  prepared  for  the  assault.     He  peremptorily 
ordered  that  every   man  should  advance  in  silence 
with  unloaded  muskets  and  fixed  bayonets.     A  sol 
dier   disobeyed  this  order,  and  began  to  load  his 
piece,  the  order  was  repeated,  and  he  persisted  in 
the  resolution  to  load,  on  which  an  officer  instantly  run 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779.  211 

him  through  the  body  with  his  sword.  On  no  occasion 
is  a  strict  obedience  to  orders  more  indispensable 
than  at  this  critical  moment ;  had  a  single  gun  been 
fired,  the  victory  might  have  been  lost,  or  the  slaugh 
ter  have  been  immense.  The  plan  being  adjusted, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  volunteers  under  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Fleury,  a  French  gentleman,  formed  the  van  of 
the  right  column,  and  one  hundred  volunteers,  under 
Major  Stuart,  com  posed  the  van  of  the  left  column,  each 
of  which  was  preceded  by  a  forlorn  hope,  of  twenty 
picked  men,  commanded  by  Lieutenants  Gibbon  and 
Knox,  for  the  express  purpose  of  removing  the  abbatis 
and  other  obstructions.  At  about  twenty  minutes 
after  twelve,  the  columns  advanced  to  the  assault,  and 
such  was  the  impetuosity  of  the  troops,  that  in  the 
face  of  a  most  tremendous  and  incessant  fire  of  mus 
ketry  and  cannon,  loaded  with  grape  shot,  they  forc 
ed  their  way  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  surmounted 
every  obstacle,  and  both  columns  met  in  the  centre 
of  the  enemy's  works  nearly  at  the  same  instant. 
Colonel  Fleury  first  entered  the  fort,  and  struck  their 
standard  with  his  own  hand.  Major  Posey  was  the 
first  to  give  the  watch  word,  "  The  fort's  our  own." 
General  Wayne,  in  his  letter  to  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  extols  highly  the  brave  conduct  of  his  officers 
and  men,  and  particularizes  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fleury, 
Major  Stuart,  Colonels  Butler,  Hull,  Meigs  and 
Febiger,  for  their  exemplary  valor  and  intrepidity. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Hay  was  wounded  in  the  thigh, 
while  fighting  with  firmness  in  the  heat  of  the  action. 
General  Wayne  himself  received  a  slight  wound  in 
his  head,  but,  supported  by  his  aids,  he  entered  the 
fort  with  the  troops.  The  truly  brave  are  ever  am 
bitious  of  distinguishing  themselves,  by  a  nice  ob 
servance  of  the  laws  of  humanity  and  generosity, 
towards  the  conquered  foe.  It  is  highly  creditable 
to  our  troops,  that  they  conducted  towards  the  pri 
soners  with  a  humane  forbearance,  which  is  directly 
the  reverse  of  the  conduct  of  the  British  on  too  many 


212  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779. 

similar  occasions  ;  they  disdained  to  take  the  lives  of 
those  who  were  in  their  power,  and  calling  for  mercy  ; 
not  an  individual  suffered  after  their  surrender,  and 
this  will  account  for  the  few  of  the  enemy  killed  on 
this  occasion  ;  heing  about  one  hundred  killed  and 
wounded.  The  continentals  had  fifteen  killed  and 
eighty  three  wounded.  The  number  of  prisoners  was 
five  hundred  and  forty  three.  Colonel  Johnson,  com 
mander  of  the  fort,  and  several  other  officers,  were 
among  the  number.  It  is  remarkable  that  out  of  the 
twenty  men  who  formed  the  for  lorn  hope,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Gibbon,  seventeen  were  killed  or  wounded. 

General  Washington's  letter  to  Congress,  applauds 
the  conduct  of  all  the  officers  and  men ;  but  he 
names  particular  officers  whose  situation  placed  them 
foremost  in  danger,  which  rendered  their  conduct  more 
conspicuous.  Lieutenants  Gibbon  and  Knox,  he  ob 
serves,  who  commanded  the  advanced  parties,  or 
forlorn  hope,  acquitted  themselves  as  well  as  it  was 
possible.  With  respect  to  General  Wayne,  he  ob 
serves,  "that  his  conduct  throughout  the  whole  of 
this  arduous  enterprize,  merits  the  warmest  appro 
bation  of  Congress ;  he  improved  on  the  plan  recom 
mended  by  me,  and  executed  it  in  a  manner  that 
does  signal  honor  to  his  judgment,  and  to  his 
bravery.  In  a  critical  moment  of  the  assault,  he  re 
ceived  a  flesh  wound  in  the  head,  with  a  musket  ball, 
but  continued  leading  on  his  men,  with  unshaken  firm 
ness."  His  Excellency  informed  Congress,  that  two 
flags  and  two  standards  were  taken,  the  former  be 
longing  to  the  garrison,  the  latter  to  the  17th  regi 
ment.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Hull,  at  the  head  of  four 
hundred  light  infantry,  displayed  a  noble  gallantry, 
for  which  he  received  the  thanks  of  General  Wayne 
and  of  Washington. 

As  distinguishing  marks  of  approbation,  Congress 
directed  that  a  gold  medal  emblematical  of  the  ac 
tion,  be  presented  to  Brigadier  General  Wayne,  and 
a  silver  one  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fleury  and  Major 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779.  213 

Stuart,  and  brevets  of  Captain  given  to  Lieutenants 
Gibbon  and  Knox,  and  that  the  value  of  the  military 
stores  taken,  should  be  divided  among  the  gallant 
troops  who  reduced  Stony  point,  in  such  a  manner  as 
the  Commander  in  Chief  should  prescribe. 

The  fortifications  at  Paulus  hook,  on  the  west  side 
of  North  river,  opposite  New  York  city,  was  taken 
by  Major  Lee  of  the  horse.  The  garrison  made  a 
faint  resistance  and  surrendered.  Major  Souther- 
land  and  about  fifteen  of  his  men,  escaped  to  a  small 
block  house.  The  approach  of  day,  and  the  vicinity 
of  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  made  it  impossi 
ble  to  bring  off  any  stores.  The  continentals  had 
possession  of  all  the  artillery  and  magazine ;  the 
prisoners  were  one  hundred  and  thirty  four  rank 
and  file,  and  seven  officers ;  about  forty  were  killed. 
Major  Lee's  loss  is  said  to  be  very  few  in  killed  and 
wounded  ;  four  only  is  the  number  mentioned. 

According  to  orders  from  General  Gates,  our 
regiment  left  Castle  William  on  the  26th,  and  ar 
rived  at  Providence  on  the  28th  instant,  and  en 
camped  at  Fox's  point.  Sunday  I  rode  with  several 
officers  to  Pawtuxet,  to  attend  the  religious  services 
of  the  celebrated  Mr.  Murray,  whose  professed  doc 
trine  is  the  universal  salvation  of  mankind.  Mr. 
Murray  is  not  admitted  into  the  pulpits  of  the  ortho 
dox  clergy  ;  his  peculiar  sentiments  are  revolting  to 
the  consciences,  and  repugnant  to  the  belief  of  a 
large  proportion  of  the  people  of  New  England.  In 
this  village  the  people  are  destitute  of  an  ordained 
minister.  The  audience  was  numerous,  and  the 
preacher  peculiarly  eloquent;  freely  and  solemnly 
declaring  the  sentiments  which  he  has  adopted,  and 
quoting  various  portions  of  scripture,  to  enforce  a 
belief  in  the  opinion  which  his  own  conscience  and 
judgment  approve. 

General  Prescott,  who  was  taken  at  Rhode  Island 
by  Colonel  Barton,  on  his  route  through  Connecticut, 
Called  at  a  tavern  to  dine  ;  the  landlady  brought  on 


214  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779. 

the  table  a  dish  of  succatash,  boiled  corn  and  beans, 
the  general,  unaccustomed  to  such  kind  of  food,  with 
much  warmth  exclaimed,  "  what,  do  you  treat  us 
with  the  food  of  hogs  ?"  arid  taking  the  dish  from 
the  table,  emptied  the  contents  over  the  floor. 
The  landlord  being  informed  of  this,  soon  entered 
with  his  horsewhip,  and  gave  the  general  a  severe 
chastisement.  After  the  general  was  exchanged,  and 
he  resumed  his  command  on  the  island,  the  inhabi 
tants  of  Nantucket  deputed  Dr.  Gilston  to  negotiate 
some  concerns  with  General  Prescott,  in  behalf  of 
the  town.  Prescott  treated  the  Doctor  very  cava 
lierly,  and  gave  as  the  cause,  that  the  Doctor  looked 
so  like  that  d — d  landlord,  who  horsewhipped  him 
in  Connecticut,  that  he  could  not  treat  him  with 
civility. 

When  the  Count  D?Estaing?s  fleet  appeared  near 
the  British  batteries,  in  the  harbor  of  Rhode  Island, 
a  severe  cannonade  was  commenced,  and  several  shot 
passed  through  the  houses  in  town,  and  occasioned 
great  consternation  among  the  inhabitants.  A  shot 
passed  through  the  door  of  Mrs.  Mason's  house, 
just  above  the  floor.  The  family  were  alarmed,  not 
knowing  where  to  flee  for  safety.  A  negro  man  ran 
and  sat  himself  down  very  composedly,  with  his  back 
against  the  shot  hole  in  the  door,  and  being  asked  by 
young  Mr.  Mason  why  he  chose  that  situation,  he 
replied,  "  Massa,  you  never  know  two  bullet  go  in 
one  place." 

October. — Information  is  received  that  the  enemy 
are  preparing  to  evacuate  the  town  of  Newport. 
They  have  burnt  the  light  house,  blown  up  some  of 
their  works,  and  embarked  their  heavy  baggage. 

16th. — It  is  ascertained  that  the  British  have 
abandoned  the  town  of  Newport,  and  that  some  of 
our  troops  have  taken  possession  of  the  town.  It  is 
but  justice  to  remark,  that  the  enemy  left  the  town 
in  good  condition,  and  that  they  treated  the  inhabi 
tants  with  civility.  They  left  a  large  quantity  of 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779.  215 

hay,  wood,  and  military  stores.     Our  regiment  is  un 
der  marching  orders. 

November. — In  obedience  to  orders,  we  marched 
from  Providence  on  the  8th  instant,  passing  through 
the  towns  of  Coventry,  Windham,  Bolton,  Hartford, 
Woodbury,  and  Newtovvn,  and  arrived  at  Danbury, 
Conn,  on  the  23d.  Our  regiment  is  united  with 
General  Stark's  brigade,  the  whole  of  which  is  now 
billeted  in  private  houses.  Danbury  was  formerly  a 
flourishing  town,  but  the  principal  part  of  it  has  been 
destroyed  by  the  enemy.  A  soldier  having  anointed 
himself  for  the  itch,  with  mercurial  ointment,  last 
night,  was  found  dead  this  morning, — and  another  suf 
fered  the  same  fate,  in  consequence  of  drinking  six 
gills  of  rum.  Our  troops  have  suffered  greatly  by 
snow,  and  rain,  and  excessively  bad  travelling,  since 
we  left  Providence. 

December. — Our  brigade  left  Danbury  on  the  5th 
instant.  It  snowed  all  the  afternoon,  and  we  took 
shelter  in  the  woods  at  Cortland's  manor.  Having 
no  other  shelter  than  bushes  thrown  together,  we 
passed  a  very  cold  uncomfortable  night.  Marched  the 
next  day  through  a  deep  snow,  and  took  lodgings  at 
night  in  private  houses  atCrompond;  marched  again 
early,  crossed  the  Hudson  at  King's  ferry,  and  pro 
ceeded  twenty  miles,  it  being  late  at  night  before  our 
men  could  all  find  accommodations,  in  the  scattering 
houses  and  barns  on  the  road.  I  visited  my  friend 
Doctor  S.  Findley,  of  General  Glover's  brigade,  and 
being  invited  to  breakfast,  the  only  food  he  could 
furnish  was  coffee,  without  milk  or  sugar,  and  meagre 
beef  steaks,  without  bread  or  even  salt.  Such  has 
been  for  some  time  the  unaccountable  scarcity  of  pro 
visions  in  the  main  army.  We  marched  to  Pompton 
on  the  9th,  and  on  the  14th  reached  this  wilderness, 
about  three  miles  from  Morristown,  where  we  are  to 
build  log  huts  for  winter  quarters.  Our  baggage  is 
left  in  the  rear,  for  want  of  wagons  to  transport  it. 
The  snow  on  the  ground  is  about  two  feet  deep,  and 


216  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1779. 

the  weather  extremely  cold ;  the  soldiers  are  desti 
tute  of  both  tents  and  blankets,  and  some  of  them 
are  actually  barefooted  and  almost  naked.  Our  only 
defence  against  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  con 
sists  of  brush  wood  thrown  together.  Our  lodging 
the  last  night  was  on  the  frozen  ground.  Those  of 
ficers  who  have  the  privilege  of  a  horse,  can  always 
have  a  blanket  at  hand.  Having  removed  the  snow, 
we  wrapped  ourselves  in  great  coats,  spread  our 
blankets  on  the  ground,  and  lay  down  by  the  side  of 
each  other  five  or  six  together,  with  large  fires  at 
our  feet,  leaving  orders  with  the  waiters  to  keep  it 
well  supplied  with  fuel  during  the  night.  We  could 
procure  neither  shelter  nor  forage  for  our  horses,  and 
the  poor  animals  were  tied  to  trees  in  the  woods  for 
twenty  four  hours  without  food,  except  the  bark  which 
they  peeled  from  the  trees.  Lieutenant  W.  and  my 
self,  rode  to  Morristown,  where  we  dined,  and  fed 
our  starving  horses  at  a  tavern.  General  Washing 
ton  has  taken  his  head  quarters  at  Morristown,  and 
the  whole  army  in  this  department  are  to  be  employed 
in  building  log  huts  for  winter  quarters.  The  ground 
is  marked  out,  and  the  soldiers  have  commenced  cut 
ting  down  the  timber  of  oak  and  walnut,  of  which 
we  have  a  great  abundance.  Our  baggage  has  at 
length  arrived,  the  men  find  it  very  difficult  to  pitch 
their  tents  on  the  frozen  ground,  and  notwithstand 
ing  large  fires,  we  can  scarcely  keep  from  freezing. 
In  addition  to  other  sufferings,  the  whole  army  has 
been  for  seven  or  eight  days  entirely  destitute  of  the 
staff  of  life  ;  our  only  food  is  miserable  fresh  beef, 
without  bread,  salt,  or  vegetables. 

It  is  a  circumstance  greatly  to  be  deprecated,  that 
the  army,  who  are  devoting  their  lives,  and  every 
thing  dear,  to  the  defence  of  our  country's  freedom, 
should  be  subjected  to  such  unparalleled  privations, 
while  in  the  midst  of  a  country  abounding  in 
every  kind  of  provisions.  The  time  has  before  oc 
curred  when  the  army  was  on  the  point  of  dissolu- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1779.  217 

tion  for  the  want  of  provisions,  and  it  is  to  be  ascrib 
ed  to  their  patriotism,  and  to  a  sense  of  honor  and 
duty,  that  they  have  not  long  since  abandoned  the 
cause  of  their  country.  The  heroic  fortitude  with 
which  our  officers  and  soldiers  support  their  dis 
tresses,  proclaims  their  fidelity,  and  intrinsic  merit. 
Besides  the  evils  abovementioned,  we  experience 
another,  in  the  rapid  depreciation  of  the  continental 
money,  which  we  receive  for  our  pay ;  it  is  now  es 
timated  at  about  thirty  for  one.  It  is  from  this  cause, 
according  to  report,  that  our  Commissary  General  is 
unable  to  furnish  the  army  with  a  proper  supply  of 
provisions.  The  people  in  the  country  are  unwilling 
to  sell  the  produce  of  their  farms  for  this  depreciated 
currency,  and  both  the  resources  and  the  credit  of 
our  Congress,  appear  to  be  almost  exhausted.  The 
year  is  now  closed,  and  with  it  expires  the  term 
of  enlistment  of  a  considerable  number  of  our  sol 
diers  ;  new  conditions  are  offered  them  to  encourage 
their  re-enlistment  during  the  war  ;  but  such  are  the 
numerous  evils  which  they  have  hitherto  experienc 
ed,  that  it  is  feared  but  a  small  proportion  of  them 
will  re-enlist.  Should  these  apprehensions  be  realiz 
ed,  the  fate  of  our  country,  and  the  destiny  of  its 
present  rulers  and  friends,  will  soon  be  decided. 

It  has  hitherto  been  our  grievous  misfortune,  that 
the  several  states  have  attempted  to  supply  their 
quota  of  the  army,  by  short  enlistments.  No  fact  is 
more  susceptible  of  demonstration,  than  that  enlist 
ing,  or  draughting  men  for  nine  months,  or  one  year, 
never  fails  of  being  attended  with  disappointment, 
and  a  train  of  pernicious  consequences.  General 
Washington  has,  from  the  beginning  of  the  contest, 
most  pointedly  protested  against  it,  and  labored  with 
unwearied  assiduity,  to  induce  the  states  to  adopt  a 
more  just  and  permanent  system.  By  the  present 
mode,  the  strength  of  the  army  is  continually  pre 
carious  and  fluctuating ;  the  recruits  have  scarcely 
time  to  learn  the  discipline  and  police  of  a  camp, 
28 


218  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1779. 

before  they  are  at  liberty  to  return  to  their  farms, 
and  their  places  are  supplied  by  others  who  require 
the  same  course  of  instruction.  The  consequence  is, 
that  but  a  small  proportion  of  our  troops  are  inured 
to  actual  service,  they  are  continually  liable  to  camp 
diseases,  and  are  undeserving  of  confidence  in  the 
most  critical  moments  of  the  campaign.  Another 
discouraging  circumstance  attending  this  mode  of  re 
cruiting  the  army  is,  the  great  inequality  of  the  boun 
ties  given  to  the  soldiers  at  different  times,  and  the 
disparity  in  the  provision  made  by  the  several  states, 
which  occasions  murmurs  and  discontent  among  their 
respective  troops.  It  is  consistency,  and  stability, 
that  give  character  and  efficiency  to  an  army,  and 
this  has  ever  been  the  great  desideratum  in  the  view 
of  our  Commander  in  Chief.  The  state  of  Massa 
chusetts,  in  order  to  fill  up  their  regiments,  have  of 
fered  a  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars,  in  addition  to 
the  continental  bounty  of  two  hundred  dollars,  to  in 
duce  men  to  enlist  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war. 
Intelligence  has  been  received  from  Savannah, 
Georgia,  which  city  has  for  some  time  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  enemy,  under  command  of  General 
Prevost.  Major  General  Lincoln  is  commander  in 
chief  of  our  army  in  that  department.  The  Count 
D'Estaing  had  arrived  there  with  a  French  fleet,  and 
a  body  of  troops.  With  these  forces,  combined  with 
the  Americans,  the  two  commanders,  after  having  be 
sieged  the  city  for  some  time,  resolved  on  the  almost 
desperate  resolution  of  possessing  it  by  assault.  The  al 
lied  force  consisted  of  between  four  and  five  thousand 
men.  General  Lincoln  and  Count  D'Estaing  led  their 
respective  troops  to  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  with  the 
most  signal  firmness  and  intrepidity,  and  faced  their  fire 
for  about  fifty  five  minutes,  when  they  were  repulsed 
with  considerable  loss.  Count  D'Estaing  received  two 
slight  wounds ;  more  than  six  hundred  of  his  brave 
troops,  and  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  continentals 
were  killed  or  wounded.  Count  Pulaski,  a  brigadier 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1779.  219 

general  in  our  service,  at  the  head  of  two  hundred 
horsemen,  was  in  full  gallop,  with  the  intention  of 
charging  the  enemy  in  the  rear,  when  he  received  a 
mortal  wound.  This  gentleman  was  a  Polander,  of 
distinguished  rank  and  character ;  having  viewed 
the  American  cause  in  a  favorable  light,  he  offered 
his  services  to  our  Congress,  who  appointed  him  to 
the  rank  of  brigadier  general.  He  has  by  his  active 
and  enterprising  spirit  rendered  essential  service  to 
our  army,  and  his  death  is  universally  lamented. 

During  the  siege  of  Savannah,  an  event  oc 
curred,  singularly  honorable  to  an  enterprizing  in 
dividual,  which  should  never  be  forgotten.  A  cap 
tain  of  Colonel  Delany's  battalion  of  refugee  troops, 
with  about  one  hundred  American  royal  regulars, 
was  posted  near  a  river  twenty  five  miles  from 
Savannah,  where  were  four  armed  British  vessels, 
manned  with  about  forty  sailors.  Colonel  John 
White,  of  the  Georgia  line,  was  desirous  of  the 
honor  of  capturing  this  party  ;  his  whole  force,  how 
ever,  consisted  of  no  more  than  six  volunteers,  in 
cluding  his  own  servant ;  it  was  only  by  a  well  con 
certed  stratagem,  therefore,  that  he  could  hope  for 
success.  In  the  night,  he  kindled  a  number  of  fires, 
in  different  places,  and  exhibited  the  appearance  of 
a  large  encampment,  and  having  arranged  his  plan, 
he  summoned  the  captain  to  surrender,  threatening 
his  entire  destruction,  by  a  superior  force,  in  case  of 
a  refusal.  Intimidated,  and  deceived  by  appear 
ances,  the  captain  immediately  signified  his  readiness 
to  comply  with  the  demand,  and  made  no  further  de 
fence.  The  American  captain,  White,  had  now  the 
satisfaction,  by  his  peculiar  address,  to  see  the  whole 
of  the  prisoners,  amounting  to  one  hundred  and  forty, 
divest  themselves  of  their  arms,  and  submit  to  him 
self  and  his  six  volunteers.  The  prisoners  were  af 
terwards  safely  conducted  by  three  of  the  captors  for 
twenty  five  miles  through  the  country,  to  an  American 
post.  During  the  present  month,  one  Hessian  lieuten- 


220  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  17BO. 

ant  and  seven  Hessian  soldiers,  and  four  British,  de 
serted  from  the  enemy  at  New  York.  The  lieutenant 
pretended  to  desire  to  enter  our  service  as  a  volun 
teer,  but  deserters  are  generally  suspicious,  or  worth 
less  characters,  undeserving  of  attention.  One  of 
the  British  deserters  pretended  to  be  a  prophet,  but 
probably  a  disguised  spy. 

January  1st,  1780.— -A  new  year  commences,  but 
brings  no  relief  to  the  sufferings  and  privations  of 
our  army.  Our  canvass  covering  affords  but  a  mis 
erable  security  from  storms  of  rain  and  snow,  and 
a  great  scarcity  of  provisions  still  prevails,  and  its 
effects  are  felt  even  at  head  quarters,  as  appears 
by  the  following  anecdote.  "  We  have  nothing  but 
the  rations  to  cook,  Sir,"  said  Mrs.  Thomson,  a  very 
worthy  Irish  woman  and  house  keeper  to  General 
Washington.  "  Well,  Mrs.  Thomson,  you  must  then 
cook  the  rations,  for  I  have  not  a  farthing  to  give 
you."  "  If  you  please,  Sir,  let  one  of  the  gentlemen 
give  me  an  order  for  six  bushels  of  salt."  "  Six 
bushels  of  salt,  for  what  ?"  "  to  preserve  the  fresh 
beef,  Sir."  One  of  the  aids  gave  the  order,  and 
the  next  day  his  Excellency's  table  was  amply  pro 
vided.  Mrs.  Thomson  was  sent  for,  and  told  that 
she  had  done  very  wrong  to  expend  her  own  money, 
for  it  was  not  known  when  she  could  be  repaid.  "I 
owe  you,"  said  his  Excellency,  "  too  much  already  to 
permit  the  debt  being  increased,  and  our  situation 
is  not  at  this  moment  such  as  to  induce  very  sanguine 
hope."  "  Dear  Sir/'  said  the  good  old  Sady,  "  it  is 
always  darkest  just  before  day  light,  and  I  hope  your 
Excellency  will  forgive  me  for  bartering  the  salt  for 
other  necessaries  which  are  now  on  the  table."  Salt 
was  eight  dollars  a  bushel,  and  it  might  always  be 
exchanged  with  the  country  people  for  articles  of 
provision. 

The  weather  for  several  days  has  been  remarka 
bly  cold  and  stormy.  On  the  3d  instant,  we  ex 
perienced  one  of  the  most  tremendous  snow  storms 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  178O.  221 

ever  remembered  ;  no  man  could  endure  its  vio 
lence  many  minutes  without  danger  of  his  life. 
Several  marquees  were  torn  asunder  and  blown 
down  over  the  officers'  heads  in  the  night,  and  some 
of  the  soldiers  were  actually  covered  while  in  their 
tents,  and  buried  like  sheep  under  the  snow.  My 
comrades  and  myself  were  roused  from  sleep  by  the 
calls  of  some  officers  for  assistance;  their  marquee 
had  blown  down,  and  they  were  almost  smothered 
in  the  storm,  before  they  could  reach  our  marquee, 
only  a  few  yards,  and  their  blankets  and  baggage 
were  nearly  buried  in  the  snow.  We  are  greatly 
favored  in  having  a  supply  of  straw  for  bedding, 
over  this  we  spread  all  our  blankets,  and  with  our 
clothes  and  large  fires  at  our  feet,  while  four  or  five 
are  crowded  together,  preserve  ourselves  from  freez 
ing.  But  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  soldiers  can 
scarcely  be  described,  while  on  duty  they  are  un 
avoidably  exposed  to  all  the  inclemency  of  storms 
and  severe  cold ;  at  night  they  now  have  a  bed  of 
straw  on  the  ground,  and  a  single  blanket  to  each 
man ;  they  are  badly  clad,  and  some  are  destitute  of 
shoes.  We  have  contrived  a  kind  of  stone  chimney 
outside,  and  an  opening  at  one  end  of  our  tents  gives 
us  the  benefit  of  the  fire  within.  The  snow  is  now 
from  four  to  six  feet  deep,  which  so  obstructs  the 
roads  as  to  prevent  our  receiving  a  supply  of  pro 
visions.  For  the  last  ten  days  wre  have  received  but 
two  pounds  of  meat  a  man,  and  we  are  frequently 
for  six  or  eight  days  entirely  destitute  of  meat,  and 
then  as  long  without  bread.  The  consequence  is, 
the  soldiers  are  so  enfeebled  from  hunger  and  cold, 
as  to  be  almost  unable  so  perform  their  military  duty, 
or  labor  in  constructing  their  huts.  It  is  well  known 
that  General  Washington  experiences  the  greatest 
solicitude  for  the  sufferings  of  his  army,  and  is  sensi 
ble  that  they  in  general  conduct  with  heroic  patience 
and  fortitude.  His  Excellency,  it  is  understood,  des 
pairing  of  supplies  from  the  Commissary  General,  has 


222  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

made  application  to  the  magistrates  of  the  state  of 
New  Jersey  for  assistance  in  procuring  provisions. 
This  expedient  has  been  attended  with  the  happiest 
success.  It  is  honorable  to  the  magistrates  and 
people  of  Jersey,  that  they  have  cheerfully  complied 
with  the  requisition,  and  furnished  for  the  present  an 
ample  supply,  and  have  thus  probably  saved  the 
army  from  destruction. 

As  if  to  make  up  the  full  measure  of  grief  and 
embarrassment  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  repeated 
complaints  have  been  made  to  him  that  some  of  the 
soldiers  are  in  the  practice  of  pilfering  and  plundering 
the  inhabitants  of  their  poultry,  sheep,  pigs,  and  even 
their  cattle,  from  their  farms.  This  marauding  prac 
tice  has  often  been  prohibited  in  general  orders,  under 
the  severest  penalties,  and  some  exemplary  punish 
ments  have  been  inflicted.  General  Washington  pos 
sesses  an  inflexible  firmness  of  purpose,  and  is  deter 
mined  that  discipline  and  subordination  in  camp  shall 
be  rigidly  enforced  and  maintained.  The  whole  army 
has  been  sufficiently  warned,  and  cautioned  against 
robbing  the  inhabitants  on  any  pretence  whatever,  and 
no  soldier  is  subjected  to  punishment  without  a  fair 
trial,  and  conviction  by  a  court  martial.  Death  has 
been  inflicted  in  a  few  instances  of  an  atrocious  nature, 
but  in  general,  the  punishment  consists  in  a  public 
whipping,  and  the  number  of  stripes  is  proportioned 
to  the  degree  of  offence.  The  law  of  Moses  pre 
scribes  forty  stripes  save  one,  but  this  number  has 
often  been  exceeded  in  our  camp.  In  aggravated 
cases,  and  with  old  offenders,  the  culprit  is  sentenced 
to  receive  one  hundred  lashes,  or  more.  It  is  always 
the  duty  of  the  drummers  and  fifers  to  inflict  the 
chastisement,  and  the  drum  major  must  attend  and 
see  that  the  duty  is  faithfully  performed.  The  cul 
prit  being  securely  tied  to  a  tree,  or  post,  receives 
on  his  naked  back  the  number  of  lashes  assigned  him, 
by  a  whip  formed  of  several  small  knotted  cords, 
which  sometimes  cut  through  the  skin  at  every  stroke. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  223 

However  strange  it  may  appear,  a  soldier  will  often 
receive  the  severest  stripes  without  uttering  a  groan, 
or  once  shrinking  form  the  lash,  even  while  the  blood 
flows  freely  from  his  lacerated  wounds.  This  must 
be  ascribed  to  stubbornness  or  pride.  They  have 
however,  adopted  a  method  which  they  say  mitigates 
the  anguish  in  some  measure,  it  is  by  putting  be 
tween  the  teeth  a  leaden  bullet,  on  which  they  chew 
while  under  the  lash,  till  it  is  made  quite  flat  and 
jagged.  In  some  instances  of  incorrigible  villains,  it 
is  adjuged  by  the  court  that  the  culprit  receive  his 
punishment  at  several  different  times,  a  certain  num 
ber  of  stripes  repeated  at  intervals  of  two  or  three 
days,  in  which  case  the  wounds  are  in  a  state  of  in 
flammation,  and  the  skin  rendered  more  sensibly 
tender  ;  and  the  terror  of  the  punishment  is  greatly 
aggravated.  Another  mode  of  punishment  is  that 
of  running  the  gantkt,  this  is  done  by  a  company 
of  soldiers  standing  in  two  lines,  each  one  furnish 
ed  with  a  switch,  and  the  criminal  is  made  to  run 
between  them  and  receive  the  scourge  from  their 
hands  on  his  naked  back ;  but  the  delinquent  runs 
so  rapidly,  and  the  soldiers  are  so  apt  to  favor  a 
comrade,  that  it  often  happens  in  this  way  that  the 
punishment  is  very  trivial ;  but  on  some  occasions, 
a  soldier  is  ordered  to  hold  a  bayonet  at  his  breast 
to  impede  his  steps.  If  a  noncommissioned  officer 
is  sentenced  to  corporeal  punishment,  he  is  always 
degraded  to  the  soldier's  rank.  The  practice  of 
corporeal  punishment  in  an  army  has  become  a  sub 
ject  of  animadversion,  and  both  the  policy  and  pro 
priety  of  the  measure  have  been  called  in  question. 
It  may  be  observed  that  the  object  of  punishment  is 
to  exhibit  examples,  to  deter  others  from  committing 
crimes ;  that  corporeal  punishment  may  be  made 
sufficiently  severe  as  a  commutation  for  the  punish 
ment  of  death  in  ordinary  cases ;  it  is  more  humane, 
and  by  saving  the  life  of  a  soldier,  we  prevent  the 
loss  of  his  services  to  the  public.  In  justification  of 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

the  practice,  it  is  alleged  also,  that  in  the  British 
army  it  has  long  been  established  in  their  military 
code,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  to  sentence  a  criminal 
to  receive  a  thousand  lashes,  and  that  they  aggravate 
its  horrors  in  the  most  cruel  manner,  by  repeating 
the  stripes  from  day  to  day,  before  the  wounds  are 
healed ;  and  instances  are  not  wanting  of  its  having 
been  attended  with  fatal  consequences.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  is  objected,  that  coporeal  punishment  is  dis 
reputable  to  an  army,  it  will  never  reclaim  the  un 
principled  villain,  and  it  has  a  tendency  to  repress 
the  spirit  of  ambition  and  enterprize  in  the  young 
soldier ;  and  the  individual  thus  ignominiously  treat 
ed,  can  never,  in  case  of  promotion  for  meritorious 
services,  be  received  with  complacency  as  a  compan 
ion  for  other  officers.  These  objections  will  apply 
to  most  other  modes  of  punishment,  and  it  remains 
to  be  decided,  which  is  the  most  eligible  for  the  pur 
pose  of  maintaining  that  subordination  so  indispen 
sable  in  all  armies. 

Notwithstanding  the  numerous  difficulties  and  dis 
couragements  with  which  our  army  have  been  com 
pelled  to  struggle,  we  are  happy  to  find  that  a  con 
siderable  proportion  of  those  soldiers  whose  terms 
of  enlistment  have  lately  expired,  have  re-enlisted 
during  the  continuance  of  the  war.  It  may  seem 
extraordinary  that  those  who  have  experienced  such 
accumulated  distress  and  privations,  should  volun 
tarily  engage  again  in  the  same  service.  But  amidst 
all  the  toils  and  hardships,  there  are  charms  in  a  mil 
itary  life :  it  is  here  that  we  witness  heroic  actions 
and  deeds  of  military  glovy.  The  power  of  habit  and 
the  spirit  of  ambition,  pervade  the  soldiers'  ranks, 
and  those  who  have  been  accustomed  to  active  scenes, 
and  formed  their  social  attachments,  cannot  without 
reluctance  quit  the  tumult  and  the  bustle  of  a  camp, 
for  the  calm  and  quiet  of  domestic  pursuits.  There 
is  to  be  found  however,  in  the  bosom  of  our  soldiers 
the  purest  principles  of  patriotism, — they  glory  in 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  225 

the  noble  cause  of  their  country,  and  pride  them 
selves  in  contributing  to  its  successful  termination. 
It  is  hoped  they  will  not  again  be  subjected  to  a, 
starving  condition. 

17  th. — A  detachment,  consisting  of  about  two  thou 
sand  five  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  Major 
General  Lord  Stirling,  was  a  few  days  since  sent  off 
in  about  five  hundred  sleighs  on  a  secret  expedition. 
The  sleighs  were  procured,  and  preparations  made, 
under  the  pretence  of  going  into  the  country  after 
provisions.  It  is  now  ascertained  that  the  object^of 
the  expedition  was  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their 
works  on  Staten  Island,  by  surprize.  Our  party 
passed  over  on  the  ice  from  Elizabethtown  in  the 
night,  but  the  enemy  having  received  intelligence  of 
their  design,  retired  into  their  strong  works  for 
safety,  and  the  object  of  the  enterprize  was  unfor 
tunately  defeated  ;  they  however,  brought  off  a 
quantity  of  blankets  and  stores.  The  snow  was 
three  or  four  feet  deep,  and  the  weather  extremely 
cold,  and  our  troops  continued  on  the  island  twenty 
foup  hours  without  covering,  and  about  five  hundred 
were  slightly  frozen,  and  six  were  killed  by  a 
party  of  horse,  who  pursued  our  rear  guard.  A 
number  of  tents,  arms,  and  a  quantity  of  baggage, 
with  several  casks  of  wine  and  spirits,  were  brought 
off,  with  seventeen  prisoners. 

27th. — A  party  of  the  enemy  made  an  excursion 
from  Staten  Island  in  the  night,  surprized  our  picket 
guard,  and  succeeded  in  taking  oiT  a  major,  and  forty 
men.  Our  officers  were  censured  for  their  conduct 
in  not  being  sufficiently  alert  to  guard  against  a  sur 
prize.  We  are  now  rejoicing  in  having  a  plentiful 
supply  of  provisions  and  a  favorable  prospect  of  a  full 
supply  in  future.  Our  log  huts  are  almost  complet 
ed,  and  we  promise  ourselves  very  comfortable  quarters 
for  the  remainder  of  the  winter. 

A  detachment  of  eighty  men,  levies  and  volunteers, 
under  command  of  Captains  Keeler  and  Lockwood, 
29 


226  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

marched  to  Morrissania  in  the  night  and  made  an 
attack  on  Colonel  Hatfield.  The  Colonel  and  his 
men  took  to  the  chambers  and  fired  out  of  the  win 
dows  and  down  stairs  at  those  who  entered  the  house. 
Our  party  found  it  almost  impossible  to  dislodge  them 
till  they  set  fire  to  the  house  by  putting  a  straw  bed 
into  a  closet  while  in  blaze,  which  compelled  them 
to  jump  out  at  the  chamber  windows  to  avoid  the 
flames.  Colonel  Hatfield,  one  captain,  one  lieu 
tenant,  and  one  quarter  master,  and  eleven  private 
soldiers  were  taken  and  brought  off. 

We  are  just  informed  that  on  the  first  of  this 
month  about  two  hundred  soldiers  of  the  Massachu 
setts  line,  who  were  stationed  at  West  Point,  pre 
tending  that  their  term  of  enlistment  had  expired, 
marched  off  with  the  intention  of  going  home.  A 
party  of  troops  was  despatched  after  them,  and  they 
were  brought  back.  Several  soldiers  from  other 
posts  followed  their  example.  The  subject  being 
investigated  by  the  proper  officers,  it  was  found  that 
many  of  them  had  several  months  to  serve,  some  of 
these  were  punished,  and  the  remainder  returned  to 
their  duty.  Those  whose  term  had  actually  expired 
were  discharged.  During  the  present  month  a  con 
siderable  number  of  deserters,  both  British  and  Hes 
sians,  have  come  from  the  enemy. 

February. — Lieutenant  Colonel  Thompson  had  the 
command  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  as  an 
advanced  party,  on  our  lines.  He  was  instructed  to 
be  constantly  alert,  and  in  motion,  that  the  enemy 
might  not  be  able  to  take  advantage,  and  form  a  plan 
for  his  destruction.  It  happened  however,  that  a 
detachment  of  British,  Hessians,  and  mounted  refu 
gees,  were  discovered  advancing  towards  him,  but 
on  account  of  a  very  deep  snow  obstructing  the  road, 
they  marched  slowly,  and  Colonel  Thompson  resolv 
ed  to  defend  his  ground.  The  enemy's  horse  first 
advanced  and  commenced  skirmishing  till  their  in 
fantry  approached,  when  a  sharp  conflict  ensued, 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  227 

which  continued  about  fifteen  minutes  ;  some  of  our 
troops  manifested  symptoms  of  cowardice,  and  gave 
way.  The  enemy  secured  the  advantage,  and  rushed 
on  with  a  general  shout,  which  soon  decided  the  con 
test.  The  Americans  lost  thirteen  men  killed,  and 
Captain  Roberts,  being  mortally  wounded,  soon  ex 
pired  ;  seventeen  others  were  wounded.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Thompson,  and  six  other  officers,  with  eighty 
nine  rank  arid  file,  were  made  prisoners.  Of  the 
enemy  two  officers  and  eighteen  men  were  wounded, 
and  five  men  killed.  One  of  our  men,  by  the  name 
of  Mayhew,  of  Massachusetts,  was  pursued  by  two  of 
the  enemy's  horse,  the  snow  being  almost  up  to  his 
hips,  they  gained  fast  on  him,  he  inquired  if  they 
would  give  him  quarter,  they  replied,  "  yes,  you 
dog,  we  will  quarter  you,"  and  this  was  again  repeat 
ed.  Mayhew,  in  despair,  resolving  to  give  them  a 
shot  before  he  submitted  to  his  fate,  turned  and  fired 
at  the  first  horseman,  who  cried  out,  (( the  rascal  has 
broken  my  leg,"  when  both  of  them  wheeled  round 
and  rode  off,  leaving  Mayhew  to  rejoice  at  his  fortu 
nate  escape. 

14th. — Having  continued  to  this  late  season  in  our 
tents,  experiencing  the  greatest  inconvenience,  we 
have  now  the  satisfaction  of  taking  possession  of  the 
log  huts,  just  completed  by  our  soldiers,  where  we 
shall  have  more  comfortable  accommodations.  Major 
Trescott,  Lieutenant  Williams,  our  pay  master,  and 
myself,  occupy  a  hut  with  one  room,  furnished  with 
our  lodging  cabins,  and  crowded  with  our  baggage. 

20th. — Two  soldiers  were  brought  to  the  gallows 
for  the  crime  of  robbery.  One  of  them  was  pardon 
ed  under  the  gallows,  and  the  other  executed.  The 
poor  criminal  was  so  dreadfully  tortured  by  the  hor 
rors  of  an  untimely  death,  that  he  was  scarcely  able 
to  sustain  himself,  and  the  scene  excited  the  compas 
sion  of  every  spectator.  It  is  hoped  that  this  exam 
ple  will  make  such  an  impression  as  to  deter  others 
from  committing  similar  crimes. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

March. — The  present  winter  is  the  most  severe 
and  distressing,  which  we  have  ever  experienced. 
An  immense  body  of  snow  remains  on  the  ground. 
Our  soldiers  are  in  a  wretched  condition  for  the  want 
of  clothes,  blankets  and  shoes ;  and  these  calamitous 
circumstances  are  accompanied  by  a  want  of  provi 
sions.  It  has  several  times  happened  that  the  troops 
were  reduced  to  one  half,  or  to  one  quarter  allowance, 
and  some  days  have  passed  without  any  meat  or 
bread  being  delivered  out.  The  causes  assigned  lor 
these  extraordinary  deficiencies,  are  the  very  low 
state  of  the  public  finances,  in  consequence  of  the 
rapid  depreciation  of  the  continental  currency,  and 
some  irregularity  in  the  commissary's  department. 
Our  soldiers,  in  general,  support  their  sufferings 
with  commendable  firmness,  but  it  is  feared  that  their 
patience  will  be  exhausted,  and  very  serious  conse 
quences  ensue. 

April. — A  party  of  our  troops  being  stationed  on 
the  line,  under  the  command  of  Major  Boyles,  of  the 
Pennsylvania  line,  was  unfortunately  surprized  by  the 
enemy  in  the  night.  The  major  defended  himself  in 
a  house  till  he  was  mortally  wounded,  when  he  and 
his  guard  surrendered.  The  enemy  set  fire  to  seve 
ral  houses,  and  carried  off  about  fifty  of  our  men,  and 
five  or  six  officers,  among  whom  is  Ensign  Thacher, 
of  our  regiment.  The  militia  pursued,  and  retook  a 
number  of  horses,  and  a  quantity  of  valuable  goods, 
which  they  had  plundered  from  the  inhabitants. 

13th. — The  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  minister  of 
France,  with  another  French  gentleman,  and  Don 
Juan  de  Miralles,  a  gentlemen  of  distinction  from 
Spain,  arrived  at  head  quarters,  from  Philadelphia, 
in  company  with  his  Excellency  General  Washing 
ton.  Major  Trescott  was  ordered  out  with  two 
hundred  men,  to  meet  and  escort  them  to  head 
quarters,  where  two  battalions  were  paraded  to  re 
ceive  them  with  the  usual  military  honors.  Several 
of  our  general  officers  rode  about  five  miles  to  meet 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  229 

the  gentlemen,  and  their  arrival  was  announced  by 
the  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon.  The  foreign  gen 
tlemen  and  their  suits,  having  left  their  carriages, 
were  mounted  on  elegant  horses,  which,  with  General 
Washington,  the  general  officers  of  our  army,  with 
their  aids  and  servants,  formed  a  most  splendid  caval 
cade,  which  attracted  the  attention  of  a  vast  con 
course  of  spectators.  General  Washington  accompa 
nied  his  illustrious  visitors  to  take  a  distant  view  of 
the  enemy's  position  and  works,  on  York  and  Staten 
island,  and  of  thje  different  posts  of  our  army,  while 
preparations  were  making  for  a  grand  field  review  of 
our  troops. 

24th. — A  field  of  parade  being  prepared  under  the 
direction  of  the  Baron  Steuben,  four  battalions  of 
our  army  were  presented  for  review,  by  the  French 
minister,  attended  by  his  Excellency  and  our  general 
officers.  Thirteen  cannon,  as  usual,  announced  their 
arrival  in  the  field,  and  they  received  from  the  offi 
cers  and  soldiers  the  military  honors  due  to  their  ex 
alted  rank.  A  large  stage  was  erected  in  the  field, 
which  was  crowded  by  officers,  ladies,  and  gentle 
men  of  distinction  from  the  country,  among  whom 
were  Governor  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey,  and  his 
lady.  Our  troops  exhibited  a  truly  military  ap 
pearance,  and  performed  the  manreuvres  and  evolu 
tions  in  a  manner,  which  afforded  much  satisfaction 
to  our  Commander  in  Chief,  and  they  were  honored 
with  the  approbation  of  the  French  minister,  and  by 
all  present.  After  the  gentlemen  had  received  the 
standing  salute  in  review,  they  dismounted  and  re 
tired  to  the  stage  with  the  ladies,  and  the  troops 
performed  several  evolutions,  and  paid  the  marching 
salute,  as  they  passed  the  stage.  The  minister  of 
France  was  highly  gratified,  and  expressed  to  Gene 
ral  Washington  his  admiration  at  the  precision  of 
their  movements,  and  the  exactness  of  their  fires,  as 
well  as  the  spirit  and  alacrity  which  seemed  to  per 
vade  all  ranks  in  the  army.  In  the  evening,  General 


230  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

Washington  and  the  French  minister,  attended  a 
ball,  provided  by  our  principal  officers,  at  which 
were  present  a  numerous  collection  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  of  distinguished  character.  Fire  works 
were  also  exhibited  by  the  officers  of  the  artillery. 
It  is  much  regretted  that  M.  de  Miralles  is  confined 
at  head  quarters,  by  indisposition.  On  the  25th, 
the  whole  army  was  paraded  under  arms,  to  afford 
M.  de  la  Luzerne  another  opportunity  of  reviewing 
the  troops,  after  which  he  was  escorted  part  of  the 
way  to  Philadelphia.  The  Spanish  gentleman  re 
mained  dangerously  sick  of  a  pulmonic  fever  at  head 
quarters,  and  on  the  28th  he  expired. 

29th. — I  accompanied  Doctor  Schuyler  to  head 
quarters,  to  attend  the  funeral  of  M.  de  Miralles. 
The  deceased  was  a  gentleman  of  high  rank  in  Spain, 
and  had  been  about  one  year  a  resident  with  our 
Congress,  from  the  Spanish  Court.  The  corpse  was 
dressed  in  rich  state,  and  exposed  to  public  view,  as 
is  customary  in  Europe.  The  coffin  was  most  splen 
did  and  stately,  lined  throughout  with  fine  cambric, 
and  covered  on  the  outside  with  rich  black  velvet, 
arid  ornamented  in  a  superb  manner.  The  top  of 
the  coffin  was  removed,  to  display  the  pomp  and 
grandeur  with  which  the  body  was  decorated.  It 
was  in  a  splendid  full  dress,  consisting  of  a  scarlet 
suit,  embroidered  with  rich  gold  lace,  a  three  cornered 
gold  laced  hat,  and  a  genteel  cued  wig,  white  silk 
stockings,  large  diamond  shoe  and  knee  buckles,  a 
profusion  of  diamond  rings  decorated  the  fingers, 
and  from  a  superb  gold  watch  set  with  diamonds, 
several  rich  seals  were  suspended.  His  Excellency 
General  Washington,  with  several  other  general  offi 
cers,  and  members  of  Congress,  attended  the  funeral 
solemnities,  and  walked  as  chief  mourners.  The 
other  officers  of  the  army,  and  numerous  respecta 
ble  citizens,  formed  a  splendid  procession,  extending 
about  one  mile.  The  pall  bearers  were  six  field 
officers,  and  the  coffin  was  borne  on  the  shoulders  of 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  231 

four  officers  of  the  artillery  in  full  uniform.  Minute 
guns  were  fired  during  the  procession,  which  greatly 
increased  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion.  A  Spanish 
priest  performed  service  at  the  grave,  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  form.  The  coffin  was  enclosed  in  a  box  of 
plank,  and  all  the  profusion  of  pomp  and  grandeur 
was  deposited  in  the  silent  grave,  in  the  common 
burying  ground,  near  the  church  at  Morristown.  A 
guard  is  placed  at  the  grave,  lest  our  soldiers  should 
be  tempted  to  dig  for  hidden  treasure.  It  is  under 
stood  that  the  corpse  is  to  be  removed  to  Philadel 
phia.  This  gentleman  is  said  to  have  been  in  posses 
sion  of  an  immense  fortune,  and  has  left  to  his  three 
daughters  in  Spain,  one  hundred  thousand  pounds 
sterling  each.  Here  we  behold  the  end  of  all  earth 
ly  riches,  pomp,  and  dignity.  The  ashes  of  Don 
Miralles  mingle  with  the  remains  of  those  who  are 
clothed  in  humble  shrouds,  and  whose  career  in  life 
was  marked  with  sordid  poverty  and  wretchedness. 

May. — The  officers  of  our  army  have  long  been 
dissatisfied  with  their  situation,  conceiving  that  we 
are  devoting  our  lives  to  the  public  service,  without 
an  adequate  remuneration.  Our  sacrifices  are  incal 
culably  great,  and  far  exceed  the  bounds  of  duty, 
which  the  public  can  of  right  claim  from  any  one 
class  of  men.  Our  wages  are  not  punctually  paid, 
we  are  frequently  five  or  six  months  in  arrears,  and 
the  continental  money  which  we  receive  is  depre 
ciated  to  the  lowest  ebb.  Congress  have  establish 
ed  a  scale  of  depreciation,  by  which  the  continen 
tal  bills  are  valued  at  forty  for  one  of  silver,  and 
at  this  rate  they  have  resolved  that  all  their  bills 
shall  be  called  in  and  a  new  emission  shall  be  issued, 
and  received  at  the  rate  of  one  for  forty  of  the 
old  emission.  But  the  public  confidence  in  paper 
money  is  greatly  diminished,  and  it  is  with  extreme 
difficulty  that  proper  supplies  can  be  procured  to 
serve  the  pressing  exigencies  of  our  army.  I  have 
just  seen  in  the  newspaper  an  advertisement  offering; 


232  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

for  an  article  forty  dollars  a  pound,  or  three  shillings 
in  silver.  This  is  the  trash  which  is  tendered  to  re 
quite  us  for  our  sacrifices,  for  our  sufferings  and  pri 
vations,  while  in  the  service  of  our  country.  It  is 
but  a  sordid  pittance  even  for  our  common  purposes 
while  in  camp,  but  those  who  have  families  depen 
dant  on  them  at  home,  are  reduced  to  a  deplorable 
condition.  In  consequence  of  this  state  of  things,  a 
considerable  number  of  officers  have  been  compelled 
to  resign  their  commissions.  His  Excellency  General 
Washington,  is  perplexed  with  an  apprehension  that 
he  shall  lose  many  of  his  most  experienced  and  valu 
able  officers ;  and  knowing  the  injustice  which  they 
suffer,  he  has  taken  a  warm  interest  in  their  cause, 
and  repeatedly  represented  to  Congress  the  absolute 
necessity  of  making  such  provision  as  will  encourage 
the  officers  to  continue  in  service  to  the  end  of  the 
war.  This  subject  he  has  pressed  with  such  earnest 
ness  and  solicitude,  as  at  length  to  effect  the  desired 
purpose.  Congress  have  resolved  that  all  officers  of 
the  line  of  the  army  who  shall  continue  in  service 
till  the  close  of  the  war,  shall  be  entitled  to  half  pay 
during  life,  and  the  depreciation  of  their  pay  shall 
be  made  good ;  and  also  that  they  shall  receive  a 
number  of  acres  of  land,  in  proportion  to  their  rank, 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  This  measure  meets  the  ap 
probation,  and  is  satisfactory  to  those  who  are  to  be 
entitled  to  the  provision ;  but  it  includes  the  officers  of 
the  line  of  the  army  only,  it  is  not  extended  to  the 
medical  staff,  and  they  copsider  themselves  pointedly 
neglected.  Why  are  the  officers  of  the  line  allow 
ed  this  exclusive  act  of  justice,  a  compensation  for  the 
depreciation  of  the  currency  ?  if  it  is  just  for  the  line, 
what  reasons  can  be  assigned  why  the  staff  officers 
should  not  be  included,  when  the  depreciation  is 
known  to  be  common  to  both  ?  Equal  justice  should 
be  the  motto  of  every  government.  The  officers  on 
the  staff  have  a  right  to  think  themselves  treated 
with  the  most  flagrant  injustice. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  23,3 

A  committee  have  arrived  in  camp,  from  Congress, 
for  the  purpose  of  investigating  the  circumstances 
and  condition  of  the  army,  and  of  redressing  our 
grievances,  if  in  their  power.  The  regimental  sur 
geons  and  mates  have  convened,  and  chosen  a  com 
mittee  of  three,  to  wait  on  the  committee  of  Con 
gress,  and  to  present  for  their  consideration  our  com 
plaints  and  grievances,  and  to  inquire  whether  we 
are  to  be  included  in  the  resolve  making  provision 
for  regimental  officers,  and  entitled  to  the  emolu 
ments  granted  to  the  line  of  the  army  ?  The  com 
mittee  replied,  that  they  could  not  give  a  decisive 
answer,  that  the  subject  of  our  complaints  did  not 
come  under  their  cognizance,  but  that  they  would 
make  the  proper  representation  to  Congress. 

Our  brigade  was  paraded  for  inspection  and  review 
by  Baron  Steuben,  in  the  presence  of  his  Excellency 
General  Washington.  The  troops  appeared  to  much 
advantage,  and  the  officers  received  the  thanks  of  the 
Baron  for  the  military  arid  soldierly  appearance  of 
the  men. 

10th. — Dined  with  Colonel  Jackson,  who  entertained 
a  party  of  gentlemen.  Our  table  was  not  ornament 
ed  with  numerous  covers,  our  fare  was  frugal,  but  de 
cent.  Colonel  Jackson  possesses  a  liberal  and  generous 
spirit,  and  entertains  his  friends  in  the  kindest  man 
ner.  We  sat  at  table  till  evening,  enjoying  the  con 
versation  of  the  learned  Doctor  Shippin,  director 
general  of  the  hospital  department,  accompanied  by 
Colonel  Proctor  and  Major  Eustis.  The  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette  has  just  arrived  at  head  quarters,  lately 
from  France.  The  safe  return  of  this  respectable 
personage,  is  matter  of  joy  and  congratulation. 

26th. — Eleven  soldiers  are  condemned  to  suffer 
death  for  various  crimes,  three  of  whom  are  sentenc 
ed  to  be  shot ;  the  whole  number  were  prepared  for 
execution  this  day,  but  pardons  were  granted,  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  to  those  who  were  to  have  been, 
shot,  and  to  seven  others,  while  under  the  sallows. 
30 


234  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780. 

This  was  a  most  solemn  and  affecting  scene,  capable  of 
torturing  the  feelings  even  of  the  most  callous  breast. 
The  wretched  criminals  were  brought  in  carts  to  the 
place  of  execution.  Mr.  Rogers,  the  chaplain,  at 
tended  them  to  the  gallows,  addressed  them  in  a 
very  pathetic  manner,  impressing  on  their  minds  the 
heinousness  of  their  crimes,  the  justice  of  their  sen 
tence,  and  the  high  importance  of  a  preparation  for 
death.  The  criminals  were  placed  side  by  side,  on 
the  scaffold,  with  halters  round  their  necks,  their 
coffins  before  their  eyes,  their  graves  open  to  their 
view,  and  thousands  of  spectators  bemoaning  their 
awful  doom.  The  moment  approaches  when  every 
eye  is  fixed  in  expectation  of  beholding  the  agonies 
of  death, — the  eyes  of  the  victims  are  already  closed 
from  the  light  of  this  world.  At  this  awful  moment, 
while  their  fervent  prayers  are  ascending  to  Heaven, 
an  officer  comes  forward  and  reads  a  reprieve  for 
seven  of  them,  by  the  Commander  in  Chief.  The 
trembling  criminals  are  now  divested  of  the  imple 
ments  of  death,  and  their  bleeding  hearts  leap  for 
joy.  How  exquisitely  rapturous  must  be  the  transi 
tion  when  snatched  from  the  agonizing  horrors  of  a 
cruel  death,  and  mercifully  restored  to  the  enjoyment 
of  a  life  that  had  been  forfeited  !  No  pen  can  describe 
the  emotions  which  must  have  agitated  their  souls. 
They  were  scarcely  able  to  remove  from  the  scaffold 
without  assistance.  The  chaplain  reminded  them  of 
the  gratitude  they  owed  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
for  his  clemency  towards  them,  and  that  the  only 
return  in  their  power  to  make,  was  a  life  devoted  to 
the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty.  The  criminal 
who  was  executed,  had  been  guilty  of  forging  a  num 
ber  of  discharges,  by  which  he  and  more  than  a  hun 
dred  soldiers  had  left  the  army.  He  appeared  to  be 
penitent,  and  behaved  with  uncommon  fortitude  and 
resolution.  He  addressed  the  soldiers,  desired  them 
to  be  faithful  to  their  country  and  obedient  to  their 
officers,  and  Advised  the  officers  to  be  punctual  in  all 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  235 

their  engagements  to  the  soldiers,  and  give  them  no 
cause  to  desert.  He  examined  the  halter,  and  told 
the  hangman  the  knot  was  not  made  right,  and  that 
the  rope  was  not  strong  enough,  as  he  was  a  heavy 
man.  Having  adjusted  the  knot  and  fixed  it  round 
his  own  neck,  he  was  swung  off  instantly.  The  rope 
broke,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground,  hy  which  he  was 
very  much  bruised.  He  calmly  reascended  the  lad 
der  and  said,  "  I  told  you  the  rope  was  not  strong 
enough,  do  get  a  stronger  one."  Another  being  pro 
cured,  he  was  launched  into  eternity. 

29th. — Four  battalions  of  our  troops  were  paraded 
for  review  by  the  commitee  of  Congress,  in  the 
presence  of  General  Washington;  they  were  duly 
honored  with  the  military  salute. 

We  are  again  visited  with  the  calamity  of  which 
we  have  so  often  complained,  a  great  scarcity  of  pro 
visions  of  every  kind.  Our  poor  soldiers  are  reduced 
to  the  very  verge  of  famine ;  their  patience  is  ex 
hausted  by  complicated  sufferings,  and  their  spirits 
are  almost  broken.  It  is  with  extreme  pain  that  we 
perceive  in  the  ranks  of  the  soldiers  a  sensible  dimi 
nution  of  that  enthusiastic  patriotism,  and  that  ardent 
attachment  to  our  cause,  by  which  they  were  formerly 
distinguished.  Much  praise  is  due  to  the  officers 
of  every  grade,  who  make  all  possible  exertions  to 
encourage,  to  satisfy  and  to  soothe  the  desponding 
spirits  of  the  soldiery.  Under  the  most  trying  cir 
cumstances  however,  both  officers  and  soldiers  retain 
their  full  confidence  in  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of 
our  illustrious  Commander  in  Chief,  whom  they  almost 
adore,  looking  up  to  him  as  children  to  an  affectionate 
father,  participating  in  the  same  sufferings.  Another 
source  of  dissatisfaction  is  the  great  inequality  sub 
sisting  among  the  soldiers  respecting  their  pecuniary 
compensation.  Those  who  enlisted  at  an  early 
period,  for  a  small  bounty,  now  find  in  the  ranks  with 
themselves,  others  who  have  recently  enlisted  for 
a  bountv  of  more  than  ten  times  the  nominal  value, 


236  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

This,  as  may  be  supposed,  excites  the  most  poig 
jiant  chagrin  and  disgust,  and  with  other  causes  of 
discontent,  has  produced  a  considerable  degree  of 
relaxation  in  discipline,  and  an  unusual  number  of 
desertions  from  our  ranks.  An  event  still  more 
alarming  occurred  on  the  25th  instant.  Two  regi 
ments  of  the  Connecticut  line  took  the  liberty  to 
parade  without  their  officers,  and  in  the  spirit  of 
mutiny,  resolved  to  march  into  the  country  to  re 
lieve  themselves  from  present  difficulties,  and  to 
furnish  themselves  with  provisions  at  all  hazards. 
Colonel  Meigs,  in  attempting  to  restore  order,  receiv 
ed  a  blow  from  one  of  the  mutineers.  A  brigade 
of  Pennsylvanians  was  ordered  to  arrest  their  pro 
gress.  The  leaders  were  secured,  and  the  two  regi 
ments  were  returned  to  their  duty.  Their  com 
plaints  are,  that  they  have  too  long  served  the  public 
without  any  present,  or  a  prospect  of  future  recom 
pense  ;  that  their  sufferings  are  insupportable,  that 
their  pay  is  five  months  in  arrear,  and  that  it  is  of 
no  value  when  received.  These  circumstances  are 
known  to  be  substantially  true,  and  in  justice  they 
ought,  and  undoubtedly  will,  be  admitted  in  extenu 
ation  of  the  crime  which  th«y  have  committed.  It 
is  nevertheless  indispensably  important,  that  every 
symptom  of  insubordination  should  be  crushed  as 
soon  as  discovered,  lest  the  example  become  con 
tagious,  and  involve  the  whole  army  in  ruin. 

June. — In  consequence  of  some  movements  of  the 
enemy,  our  brigade  was  ordered  to  Chatham.  A 
party  of  the  enemy,  about  five  thousand  strong,  came 
out  of  New  York  on  the  7th  instant,  to  a  place  called 
Connecticut  Farms,  where  they  burnt  a  few  houses 
and  plundered  the  inhabitants,  but  being  opposed 
by  General  Maxwell's  brigade  of  Jersey  troops,  and 
the  militia,  who  turned  out  with  spirit,  they  soon 
retreated  to  Elizabethtown  point,  with  some  loss,  and 
were  pursued  by  our  troops.  In  this  little  skirmish, 
the  British  General  Stirling,  received  a  wound  which 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  237 

it  is  supposed  will  prove  mortal.  A  number  of  other 
officers  and  soldiers,  on  the  side  of  the  British,  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  twenty  prisoners  taken  by 
our  militia.  Our  loss  does  not  exceed  ten  or  twelve 
killed,  and  twenty  or  thirty  wounded. 

Among  the  horrid  and  barbarous  deeds  of  the 
enemy,  one  has  just  been  perpetrated,  which  will  be 
an  everlasting  stigma  on  the  British  character.  In 
the  vicinity  of  the  Connecticut  Farms,  state  of  New 
Jersey,  resided  the  Rev.  James  Caldwell,  a  Presby 
terian  minister.  This  gentleman  had  uniformly  taken 
an  active  part  with  his  parishioners  on  the  side  of  the 
Americans,  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  marked 
for  British  vengeance.  On  the  approach  of  the  ene 
my,  he  retired  into  the  country,  leaving  his  lady 
with  the  care  of  the  family,  supposing  that  the  cus 
tomary  respect  for  the  female  character  would  be  a 
pledge  for  her  safety.  Mrs.  Caldwell,  soon  after  the 
approach  of  the  royal  troops  to  the  house,  and  a  young 
woman,  having  Mrs.  CaldwelFs  infant  in  her  arms, 
seated  themselves  on  the  bed,  when  a  British  soldier 
came  to  the  house,  and  putting  his  gun  to  the  window 
of  the  room,  shot  her  through  the  breast,  and  she 
instantly  expired.  Soon  after,  an  officer  with  two 
Hessian  soldiers,  came  and  ordered  a  hole  to  be  dug, 
the  body  to  be  thrown  in,  and  the  house  to  be  set  on 
fire.  Thus  was  murdered  an  amiable  and  excellent 
lady,  and  the  worthy  husband  left  with  nine  children, 
destitute  of  even  a  change  of  clothes,  or  any  thing 
to  render  them  comfortable.  The  house  and  every 
article  belonging  to  this  respectable  family  were  con 
sumed,  together  with  the  church  and  thirteen  dwell 
ing  houses.  The  British,  during  their  excursion, 
took  the  opportunity  of  distributing  a  number  of 
hand  bills,  containing  a  pompous  account  of  the  cap 
ture  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  by  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  with  the  garrison,  commanded  by  Major 
General  Lincoln.  This  unfortunate  event  is  now 
confirmed  by  Generals  Arnold  and  Wayne,  who  have 


238  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

just  arrived  from  Philadelphia.  General  Lincoln 
was  posted  in  the  town  of  Charleston,  with  a  force 
consisting  of  between  twro  and  three  thousand  men, 
including  militia  and  seamen.  General  Clinton,  in 
vested  the  town  with  a  powerful  fleet  and  an  army 
of  thirteen  thousand  strong.  He  proceeded  with 
regular  approaches,  till  he  advanced  within  twenty 
five  yards  of  the  American  lines,  and  repeatedly  de 
manded  the  surrender  of  the  garrison.  Through  the 
very  judicious  management  of  General  Lincoln,  the 
siege  was  protracted  from  the  13th  of  April  to  the 
12th  of  May ;  and  during  fifteen  days  of  this  time  his 
troops  were  reduced  to  an  allowance  of  six  ounces  of 
pork  a  man,  and  for  the  last  six  days,  to  one  and  a  half 
pint  of  rice,  and  three  ounces  of  sugar,  a  day.  General 
Lincoln  had  to  consult  the  interest  and  opinions  of 
the  inhabitants,  which  greatly  increased  his  embar 
rassments.  At  length  the  lines  of  defence  being 
almost  entirely  demolished,  by  an  incessant  bombard 
ment  and  cannonade,  the  besieged  were  reduced  to 
the  last  extremity,  and  being  in  hourly  expectation 
of  an  assault,  it  was  agreed  between  General  Lincoln 
and  the  principal  inhabitants,  that  the  town  and  gar 
rison  should  be  surrendered  by  capitulation.  Gen 
eral  Lincoln,  in  this  most  important  transaction  of 
his  life,  manifested  a  cool  intrepidity,  a  zealous  per 
severance,  and  a  presence  of  mind  which  proclaim 
him  preeminently  qualified  to  encounter  the  extreme 
difficulties  and  dangers,  in  which  he  was  involved ; 
and  the  terms  of  surrender  were  as  honorable  as 
could  have  been  expected. 

15th. — Major  Lee,  from  Virginia,  has  just  arrived 
in  camp,  with  a  beautiful  corps  of  light  horse,  the 
men  in  complete  uniform,  and  the  horses  very  elegant 
and  finely  disciplined.  Major  Lee  is  said  to  be  a 
man  of  great  spirit  and  enterprize,  and  much  im 
portant  service  is  expected  from  him.  By  a  gentle 
man  just  from  New  York,  we  are  informed  that 
General  Stirling  died  a  few  days  ago  of  the  wounds 


MILITARY    JOURNAL.,  1780.  $39 

which  he  received  in  the  skirmish  with  our  troops 
on  the  7th  instant. 

16th. — A  soldier  of  the  Jersey  line  was  hanged 
for  attempting  to  desert  to  the  enemy.  This  is  one 
of  those  hardened  villains  who  were  pardoned  under 
the  gallows  about  three  weeks  since. 

I9th. — Four  emissaries  from  the  enemy,  were 
found  concealed  in  a  barn,  belonging  to  a  tory,  in  the 
vicinity  of  our  lines ;  one  of  them,  their  leader,  refus 
ed  to  surrender,  and  was  killed  on  the  spot.  The 
other  three  were  tried  by  a  court  martial,  and  being 
convicted  as  spies,  were  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 
These  unfortunate  young  men  came  to  the  gallows 
overwhelmed  with  the  horrors  of  death.  Their  whole 
frames  were  thrown  into  a  tremor,  and  they  were 
tortured  at  the  sight  of  the  gallows  and  halters. 
They  had  flattered  themselves  that  mercy  would  be 
extended  to  them,  and  that  they  would  either  be 
pardoned,  or  their  lives  be  prolonged  for  a  few  days  $ 
but  when  they  found  that  the  executioner  was  about 
to  perform  his  office,  their  mournful  cries  and  lamen 
tations  were  distressing  beyond  description.  It  has 
somewhere  been  noted,  that  a  girl  walked  seven 
miles,  in  a  torrent  of  rain,  to  see  a  man  hanged,  and 
returned  in  tears,  because  the  criminal  was  reprieved  ; 
on  the  present  occasion,  a  heart  so  full  of  depravity 
might  have  enjoyed  an  indulgence  even  to  satiety. 

The  enemy  in  New  York,  are  reported  to  be  in 
motion,  and  we  shall  probably  very  soon  be  called  to 
engage  in  battle.  General  orders  are  issued  for  the 
whole  army  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's 
warning.  At  6  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  23d, 
the  alarm  guns  were  fired,  and  the  drums  throughout 
our  camp  beat  to  arms,  announcing  the  approach  of 
the  enemy ;  the  whole  army  is  instantly  in  motion, 
the  scene  to  my  contemplation  is  awfully  sublime,  yet 
animation  and  composure,  seem  to  pervade  every 
countenance.  The  present  hour  is  undoubtedly 
pregnant  with  death  and  carnage  ;  every  arm  is 


240  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780. 

nerved  for  defence,  and  every  heart,  it  is  presumed, 
fortified  to  abide  its  destiny.  Soon  after  the  alarm, 
our  advanced  party,  consisting  of  General  Maxwell's 
brigade,  and  a  few  militia,  discovered  the  enemy 
advancing  towards  the  village  of  Springfield.  A 
close  engagement  with  the  enemy's  advance  immedi 
ately  ensued  ;  but  being  pressed  by  four  times  our 
number,  General  Maxwell,  after  an  obstinate  resist 
ance,  was  obliged  to  retreat,  till  a  reinforcement 
could  arrive.  Our  brigade,  commanded  by  General 
Stark,  soon  joined  Maxwell,  on  the  high  ground 
near  the  village  of  Springfield.  Colonel  AngePs  regi 
ment,  of  Rhode  Island,  with  several  small  parties, 
were  posted  at  a  bridge  over  which  the  enemy  were 
to  pass,  and  their  whole  force,  of  five  or  six  thousand 
men,  was  actually  held  in  check  by  these  brave  sol 
diers  for  more  than  forty  minutes,  amidst  the  severest 
firing  of  cannon  and  musketry.  The  enemy  how 
ever,  with  their  superior  force,  advanced  into  the 
village,  and  wantonly  set  fire  to  the  buildings.  We 
had  the  mortification  of  beholding  the  church,  and 
twenty  or  thirty  dwelling  houses  and  other  buildings, 
in  a  blaze,  and  they  were  soon  consumed  to  ashes. 
Having  thus  completed  their  great  enterprize,  and 
acquired  to  themselves  the  honor  of  burning  a  village, 
they  made  a  precipitate  retreat  to  Elizabeth  point, 
and  the  ensuing  night  crossed  over  to  Staten  island. 
Our  brigade  was  ordered  to  pursue  the  retreating 
enemy,  but  we  could  not  overtake  them ;  we  discover 
ed  several  fresh  graves,  and  found  fifteen  dead  bodies, 
which  they  left  in  the  field,  and  which  we  buried. 
We  were  informed  by  the  inhabitants,  that  they 
carried  off  eight  or  ten  wagon  loads  of  dead  and 
wounded.  Our  militia  took  fifteen  prisoners.  Gen 
eral  Knyphausen  was  the  commander,  and  his  force 
consisted  of  five  or  six  thousand  men  ;  the  particular 
object  of  the  expedition  is  not  ascertained  ;  if  it  was 
to  force  their  way  to  Morristown,  to  destroy  our 
magazines  and  stores,  they  were  disappointed ;  if  to 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  241 

burn  the  village  of  Springfield,  they  are  welcome  to 
the  honor  of  the  exploit.  Our  troops  were  com 
manded  by  Major  General  Greene  ;  not  more  than 
one  thousand  were  brought  into  action  at  any  one 
time ;  their  conduct  was  marked  with  the  commenda 
ble  coolness  and  intrepidity  of  veteran  troops.  Colo 
nel  Angel's  regiment,  in  a  special  mariner,  acquired 
immortal  honor,  by  its  unexampled  bravery.  In  the 
heat  of  the  action,  some  soldiers  brought  to  me  in  a 
blanket,  Captain  Lieutenant  Thompson  of  the  artille 
ry,  who  had  received  a  most  formidable  wound,  a 
cannon  ball  having  passed  through  both  his  thighs 
near  the  knee  joint.  With  painful  anxiety?  the  poor 
man  inquired  if  I  would  amputate  both  his  thighs ; 
sparing  his  feelings,  I  evaded  his  inquiry,  and  direct 
ed  him  to  be  carried  to  the  hospital  tent  in  the  rear, 
where  he  would  receive  the  attention  of  the  sur 
geons.  "  All  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  his 
life."  He  expired  in  a  few  hours.  While  advanc 
ing  against  the  enemy,  my  attention  was  directed  to 
a  wounded  soldier  in  the  field.  I  dismounted  and 
left  my  horse  at  a  rail  fence,  it  was  not  long  before 
a  cannon  ball  shattered  a  rail  within  a  few  feet  of  my 
horse,  and  some  soldiers  were  sent  to  take  charge  of 
the  wounded  man,  and  to  tell  me  it  was  time  to 
retire.  I  now  perceived  that  our  party  had  retreat 
ed,  and  our  regiment  had  passed  me.  I  immediately 
mounted  and  applied  spurs  to  my  horse,  that  I  might 
gain  the  front  of  our  regiment.  Colonel  Jackson 
being  in  the  rear,  smiled  as  I  passed  him  ;  but  as  my 
duty  did  not  require  my  exposure,  I  felt  at  liberty  to 
seek  a  place  of  safety.  It  may  be  considered  a  singu 
lar  circumstance,  that  the  soldier  above  mentioned 
was  wounded  by  the  wind  of  a  cannon  ball.  His 
arm  was  fractured  above  the  elbow,  without  the 
smallest  perceptible  injury  to  his  clothes,  or  contusion 
or  discoloration  of  the  skin.  He  made  no  complaint, 
but  I  observed  he  was  feeble  and  a  little  confused  in 
his  mind.  He  received  proper  attention,  but  expir- 
31 


242  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

ed  the  next  day.  The  idea  of  injury  by  the  wind 
of  a  ball,  I  learn,  is  not  new,  instances  of  the  kind 
have,  it  is  said,  occured  in  naval  battles,  and  are  almost 
constantly  attended  with  fatal  effects. 

Our  troops  in  camp  are  in  general  healthy,  but  we 
are  troubled  with  many  perplexing  instances  of  in 
disposition,  occasioned  by  absence  from  home,  called 
by  Dr.  Cullen  nostalgia,  or  home  sickness.  This 
complaint  is  frequent  among  the  militia,  and  recruits 
from  New  England.  They  become  dull  and  melan 
choly,  with  loss  of  appetite,  restless  nights,  and  great 
weakness.  In  some  instances  they  become  so  hypo- 
chondriacal  as  to  be  proper  subjects  for  the  hospital. 
This  disease  is  in  many  instances  cured  by  the  rail 
lery  of  the  old  soldiers,  but  is  generally  suspended 
by  a  constant  and  active  engagement  of  the  mind,  as 
by  the  drill  exercise,  camp  discipline,  and  by  un 
common  anxiety,  occasioned  by  the  prospect  of  a 
battle. 

July. — Our  brigade  marched  from  Short  hills  on 
the  25th  of  June,  and  arrived  at  Prackanes,  Jer.  the 
1st  of  July.  I  rode  with  Dr.  Tenney,  and  Captain 
Hughes,  about  five  miles  to  take  a  view  of  the  Passaic 
falls,  called  by  some  Totowa  falls,  which  are  repre 
sented  as  a  great  natural  curiosity.  The  Passaic  river 
runs  over  large  rocky  mountains  covered  with  fir  trees. 
At  this  place  an  immense  body  of  rock  would  totally 
interrupt  its  passage,  had  it  not  been  by  some  stupen 
dous  power  rent  in  several  places  from  top  to  bottom, 
forming  huge  clefts,  some  of  which  are  twenty  or 
thirty  feet  wide,  others  not  more  than  two  or  three, 
and  from  fifty  to  severity  feet  deep.  The  depth  of 
one  of  them,  it  is  said,  has  never  been  ascertained. 
It  is  here  that  the  whole  torrent  of  the  river  falls 
perpendicularly,  with  amazing  violence  and  rapidity, 
down  a  rocky  precipice  of  seventy  feet,  with  a 
tremendous  roar  and  foaming.  But  being  interrupt 
ed  in  its  course,  by  craggy  rocks,  it  turns  abruptly 
to  the  right,  and  again  to  the  left,  and  falling  into 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  243 

huge  cavities  below,  the  whole  torrent  vanishes  from 
our  sight ;  hut  stepping  to  another  precipice  a  few- 
yards  distant,  we  behold  the  same  torrent  emerging 
from  it  subterraneous  course  and  rushing  into  a  large 
basin,  or  cavern,  formed  in  the  rock.  This  basin 
contains  forty  fathoms  of  water,  and  is  never  full,  but 
its  rocky  walls  on  all  sides  ascend  sixty  feet  above 
the  surface  of  the  water.  Such  is  the  astonishing 
depth  of  this  receptacle,  that  the  water  neither  foams 
nor  forms  whirlpools  by  the  rushing  current,  but  is 
calm  jind  undisturbed.  From  this  basin  the  water 
rushes  through  its  outlet,  reassumes  the  form  of  a 
river,  and  in  majestic  silence  pursues  its  course  to 
wards  the  sea. 

In  the  afternoon  we  were  invited  to  visit  another 
curiosity  in  the  neighborhood.  This  is  a  monster  in 
the  human  form.  He  is  twenty  seven  years  of  age,  his 
face  from  the  upper  part  of  his  forehead  to  the  end 
of  his  chin,  measures  twenty  inches,  and  round  the 
upper  part  of  his  head  is  twenty  one  inches,  his  eyes 
and  nose  are  remarkably  large  and  prominent,  chin 
long  and  pointed.  His  features  are  coarse,  irregular 
and  disgusting,  and  his  voice  is  rough  and  sonorous. 
His  body  is  only  twenty  seven  inches  in  length,  his 
limbs  are  small,  and  much  deformed,  and  he  has  the 
use  of  one  hand  only.  He  has  never  been  able  to 
stand,  or  sit  up,  as  he  cannot  support  the  enormous 
weight  of  his  head ;  but  lies  constantly  in  a  large 
cradle,  with  his  head  supported  on  pillows.  He  is 
visited  by  great  numbers  of  people,  and  is  peculiarly 
fond  of  the  company  of  clergymen,  always  inquiring 
for  them  among  his  visitors,  and  taking  great  pleasure 
in  receiving  religious  instruction.  General  Wash 
ington  made  him  a  visit,  and  asked,  "  whether  he  was 
a  whig  or  tory  ?"  He  replied,  that  "  he  had  never 
taken  an  active  part  on  either  side." 

5th. — I  took  an  excursion  a  few  miles  into  the  coun^ 
try,  to  visit  the  surgeons  of  the  flying  hospital ;  took 
tea  at  their  quarters,  with  a  wealthy  Dutch  family, 


244  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

and  was  treated  with  great  civility.  They  live  in  a 
style  superior  to  the  Low  Dutch  in  general ;  the  table 
was  amply  furnished  with  cherries,  raspberries  and 
other  fruits,  which  abound  in  this  country. 

10/A. — The  officers  of  our  regiment,  and  those  of 
Colonel  Webb's,  united  in  providing  an  entertain 
ment,  and  invited  a  respectable  number  of  gentlemen 
of  our  brigade  to  dine ;  Dr.  West  and  myself  were  ap 
pointed  caterers  and  superintendents.  We  erected 
a  large  arbor,  with  the  boughs  of  trees,  under  which 
we  enjoyed  an  elegant  dinner,  and  spent  the  after 
noon  in  social  glee,  with  some  of  the  wine  which  was 
taken  from  the  enemy  when  they  retreated  from 
Elizabeth  town.  Our  drums  and  fifes  afforded  us  a 
favorite  music  till  evening,  when  we  were  delighted 
with  the  song  composed  by  Mr.  Hopkinson,  called 
the  "  Battle  of  the  Kegs,"  sung  in  the  best  style  by 
a  number  of  gentlemen. 

14^/1. — An  express  has  arrived  at  head  quarters, 
from  Rhode  Island,  with  the  pleasing  information  of 
the  arrival  there  of  a  French  fleet,  accompanied  by 
an  army  of  six  thousand  regular  French  troops,  who 
are  to  co-operate  with  our  army  as  allies  in  our  cause. 
They  are  commanded  by  Count  Rochambeau,  a  dis 
tinguished  general  in  the  French  service. 

20th. — In  general  orders,  the  Commander  in  Chief 
congratulates  the  army,  on  the  arrival  of  a  large  land 
and  naval  armament  at  Rhode  Island,  sent  by  his 
Most  Christian  Majesty,  to  co-operate  with  us  against 
the  common  enemy.  The  lively  concern  which  our 
allies  manifest  for  our  safety  and  independence,  has  a 
claim  to  the  affection  of  every  virtuous  citizen.  The 
general,  with  confidence  assures  the  army,  that  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  French  forces,  come  to  our 
aid  animated  with  a  zeal  founded  in  sentiment  for  us, 
as  well  as  in  duty  to  their  prince,  and  that  they  will 
do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  promote  harmony 
and  cultivate  friendship ;  he  is  equally  persuaded 
on  our  part,  that  we  shall  vie  with  them  in  their  good 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  245 

disposition,  to  which  we  are  excited  by  gratitude 
as  well  as  by  common  interest, — and  that  the  only 
contention  between  the  two  armies  will  be  to  excel 
each  other  in  good  offices,  and  in  the  display  of  every 
military  virtue.  This  will  be  a  pledge  of  the  most 
solid  advantage  to  the  common  cause,  and  a  glorious 
issue  to  the  campaign.  The  Commander  in  Chief  has 
recommended  to  the  officers  of  our  army,  to  wear 
cockades  of  black  and  white,  intermixed,  as  a  symbol 
of  friendship  for  our  French  allies,  who  wear  white 
cockades. 

22d. — The  officers  of  our  regiment  received  an 
invitation  to  dine  with  Major  General  Lord  Stirling. 
We  were  introduced  to  his  Lordship  by  Colonel  Jack 
son,  and  were  received  with  great  civility  and  polite 
ness.  Colonel  Biddle  and  his  lady  were  of  the  guests. 
Our  entertainment  was  sumptuous  and  elegant.  After 
the  covers  were  removed,  the  servants  brought  in 
pails  filled  with  cherries  and  strawberries,  which 
were  strewed  over  the  long  table ;  with  these,  and 
excellent  wine,  accompanied  by  martial  music,  we 
regaled  ourselves  till  evening.  This  gentleman's 
proper  name  is  William  Alexander,  and  he  is  a  native 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  visited  Scotland  in 
pursuit  of  the  title  and  estate  of  an  earldom,  which 
he  claimed  as  the  rightful  heir  of  his  ancestor,  who 
had  this  title,  and  a  grant  of  Nova  Scotia,  anno,  1621. 
In  this  pursuit,  he  expended  a  large  proportion  of 
his  fortune,  but  failed  in  obtaining  an  acknowledg 
ment  of  his  claim  by  the  government;  yet,  by  cour 
tesy,  he  bears  the  title  of  Lord  Stirling.  He  is  con 
sidered  as  a  brave,  intelligent  and  judicious  officer. 
In  the  battle  on  Long  Island  in  August,  1776,  he 
unfortunately  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy ;  but 
it  occasioned  no  impeachment  of  his  character  and 
conduct.  He  possesses  the  genuine  principles  of 
patriotism,  and  is  strongly  attached  to  General  Wash 
ington.  He  disclosed  to  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
the  intrigue  of  General  Con  way,  when  in  1777,  he 


246  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

attempted  to  supersede  his  Excellency,  saying  in  his 
letter,  "  such  wicked  duplicity  of  conduct,  I  shall 
always  think  it  my  duty  to  detect/*'  In  his  personal 
appearance,  his  lordship  is  venerable  and  dignified ; 
in  his  deportment,  gentlemanly  and  graceful ;  in  con 
versation,  pleasing  and  interesting.*  He  is  said  to 
be  ambitious  of  the  title  of  lordship.  Being  pre 
sent  at  the  execution  of  a  soldier  for  desertion,  the 
criminal  at  the  gallows  repeatedly  cried  out,  "  the 
Lord  have  mercy  on  me ;"  his  lordship  with  warmth 
exclaimed,  "  I  won't,  you  rascal,  I  won't  have  mercy 
on  you." 

23d. — Sunday  I  attended  a  sermon  preached  by 
Mr.  Blair,  chaplain  of  the  artillery.  The  troops 
were  paraded  in  the  open  field,  the  sermon  was  well 
calculated  to  inculcate  religious  principles,  and  the 
moral  virtues.  His  Excellency  General  Washington, 
Major  Generals  Greene  and  Knox,  with  a  number  of 
other  officers,  were  present. 

.August. — Orders  are  given  for  the  army  to  be  in 
readiness  for  a  movement. 

According  to  orders,  our  brigade  marched  from 
Prackanes  on  the  29th  of  July,  and  encamped  at 
Paramus  at  night,  fifteen  miles.  The  men  were  ex 
ceedingly  affected  with  the  heat  and  fatigue.  We 
marched  on  the  succeeding  day  at  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning ;  at  this  early  hour,  the  drums  beat  the 
reveille,  which  summons  us  from  our  hard  beds  and 
slumbers,  in  haste  we  roll  up  our  travelling  bed  fur 
niture,  strike  our  tents,  order  them  thrown  into  the 
wagons,  mount  our  horses,  and  with  a  slow  pace 
follow  the  march  of  our  soldiers,  bending  under  the 
weight  of  the  burden  on  their  backs.  We  arrived 
at  the  North  river  and  crossed  the  ferry,  August  1st, 
where  we  found  the  whole  of  our  main  army  collect 
ing  to  a  point.  All  the  troops  from  West  Point 
that  can  be  spared,  and  detachments  from  different 

*  His  lordship  died  at  Albany,  January  15th,  1783,  aged  fifty  seven 

years. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  247 

stations,  have  formed  a  junction  in  this  vicinity. 
Two  brigades  have  been  selected  from  the  different 
regiments  in  the  main  army,  to  form  a  corps  of 
light  infantry,  to  be  commanded  by  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette.  They  have  been  reviewed  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief  and  other  general  officers,  on 
the  grand  parade,  and  are  pronounced  to  be  as 
excellent  a  corps  as  can  be  produced  in  any  army. 
The  Marquis  is  delighted  with  his  command,  and  is 
at  his  own  expense  providing  for  them  some  extra 
equipments.  It  is  understood,  that  General  Clinton 
has  despatched  a  part  of  the  British  fleet  and  army 
on  an  expedition  against  our  allies,  the  French  fleet 
and  army  at  Rhode  Island.  The  whole  of  our  army 
having  crossed  to  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson,  it 
is  conjectured  that  his  Excellency  contemplates  some 
important  enterprize  against  the  enemy  at  New 
York,  or  at  least  to  compel  General  Clinton  to  recall 
his  expedition  from  Rhode  Island,  for  his  own  safety. 
Our  Commander  in  Chief  has  ordered  that  the  army 
disencumber  itself  of  all  heavy  baggage,  which  with 
the  women  and  children,  are  to  be  immediately  sent 
to  West  Point,  and  that  the  troops  have  constantly 
two  days  provisions  cooked  on  hand,  and  hold  them 
selves  in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning. 
Such  is  our  condition  for  order  and  regularity,  that 
the  whole  army,  which  occupies  an  extent  of  several 
miles,  can  be  put  in  motion,  and  take  up  a  line  of 
march  in  less  than  one  hour.  The  horses  belonging 
to  our  baggage  wagons,  and  to  the  artillery,  are 
constantly  in  harness,  and  those  belonging  to  the 
officers  are  kept  in  readiness  ;  every  man,  and  every 
horse  are  taught  to  know  their  place  and  their  duty. 
Marching  orders,  so  soon  as  issued,  are  communicated 
to  each  brigade  and  regiment.  The  whole  line  of 
encampment  resounds  with  martial  music,  all  is  bustle 
and  activity,  but  free  from  confusion.  The  drums 
and  fifes  beating  a  march,  the  tents  are  instantly 
struck  and  thrown  into  wagons,  the  line  of  march 


248  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

commences,  every  subordinate  officer  and  soldier 
follows  his  commander,  and  whether  to  rush  into 
battle  and  encounter  the  dogs  of  war,  or  only  to  ma- 
nceuvre  in  the  field>  it  is  no  man's  business  to  know 
or  inquire.  The  secret  is  where  it  ought  to  be,  in 
the  breast  of  him  who  directs  our  destiny,  and  whom 
it  is  our  pride  to  obey.  Such  is  the  state  and 
condition  of  a  well  regulated  and  disciplined  army, 
and  such  only  can  attain  to  military  fame  and  glory. 
It  is  now  ascertained,  August  4th,  that  the  for 
midable  manoeuvre  of  our  army  has  effected  the  ob 
ject  intended.  The  enemy's  expedition  to  Rhode 
Island  has  returned  to  New  York,  in  consequence 
probably  of  the  alarm  excited  for  the  safety  of  that 
city.  Orders  are  now  received,  for  our  army  to  re- 
cross  the  Hudson  to  the  Jersey  shore.  Our  brigade 
crossed  the  ferry  in  the  night  of  the  5th,  and  en 
camped  in  a  field  about  five  miles  from  the  ferry. 
The  crossing  of  the  whole  army,  occupied  three  days 
and  nights,  during  which  a  vast  number  of  large  boats 
and  floats  were  continually  in  motion.  On  the  6th, 
inarched  to  Greenbush,  and  on  the  7th  and  8th,  the 
whole  army  arrived  and  encamped  at  Orangetown. 
The  light  infantry,  tinder  the  Marquis,  is  constantly 
advanced  three  miles  in  front  of  the  army.  The 
fatigue,  and  extreme  heat,  during  this  march,  have 
produced  very  unfavorable  effects  on  our  troops,  and 
they  are  now  becoming  sickly.  Cholera  morbus, 
dysentery  and  remittent  fevers,  are  the  prevailing 
complaints,  which  demand  all  my  attention. 

9th. — Dined  with  the  Baron  Steuben,  and  spent 
the  afternoon  with  the  guests.  The  Baron  keeps 
a  splendid  table,  and  treats  his  visitors  with  polite 
attention.  Captain  William  North,  of  our  regiment, 
is  one  of  the  aids  de  camp  of  the  Baron,  and  has 
ingratiated  himself  so  highly  in  his  favor,  that  he 
treats  him  with  all  the  affection  of  a  son. 

A  committee  from  Congress,  have  again  arrived  in 
our  camp,  with  the  view  of  investigating  the  affairs 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  249 

of  the  army,  to  attend  to  complaints,  and  to  redress 
grievances,  so  far  as  may  be  in  their  power  ;  and  they 
will  find  that  their  task  and  duty  are  not  to  be  envied. 
The  regimental  surgeons  and  mates  have  deputed  a 
committee  to  present  a  list  of  our  grievances  for  their 
honors'  consideration.  We  claim  of  Congress  the 
same  emoluments  and  remuneration  which  are  pro 
mised  to  the  officers  of  the  line  of  the  army. 

14th. — Visited  Dr.  Cochran,  our  surgeon  general, 
at  his  quarters  in  the  country,  and  thence  proceeding 
to  the  light  infantry  encampment,  took  tea  with 
Major  Trescott  and  Captain  Gushing.  I  accompanied  a 
number  of  oflicers  to  Dobb's  ferry,  where  our  troops 
are  engaged  in  erecting  a  block  house  and  batteries, 
to  defend  the  passage  at  the  ferry  way.  The  Hud 
son  at  this  place  is  about  three  miles  wide,  so  that  no 
battery  can  prevent  the  enemy's  shipping  from  pass 
ing  up  the  river  from  New  York. 

20th. — Sunday  attended  a  sermon  preached  by 
Mr.  Enos  Hitchcock,  chaplain  to  General  Patterson's 
brigade  ;  the  troops  were  assembled  in  the  open, 
field.  Mr.  Hitchcock  is  respected  as  a  sensible  and 
learned  divine,  of  pure  morals  and  correct  principles. 
His  patriotic  zeal  and  ardent  attachment  to  his  coun 
try's  freedom,  induced  him  to  quit  his  people  and 
domestic  enjoyments  at  Beverly,  Massachusetts,  for 
the  turmoil  and  fatigue  of  camp.  I  dined  with  my 
friends  Dr.  Skinner  and  Major  Winslow.  We  are 
again  visited  with  the  alarming  apprehension  of  a 
famine  ;  no  meat  has  been  drawn  for  tw7o  days  past ; 
no  money,  no  rum,  and  no  contentment  among  our 
soldiers,  great  dissatisfaction  prevails. 

25th. — The  whole  army  in  this  quarter  has  de 
camped,  the  object  and  destination  a  secret ;  the  con 
jectural  object  is  to  procure  a  supply  of  provisions, 
and  forage,  from  the  inhabitants  between  the  lines, 
which  otherwise  would  go  to  supply  the  wants  of  the 
enemy.  All  the  sick  and  disabled  are  left  in  camp, 
and  I  am  directed  to  take  charge  of  those  belonging 
32 


250  MILITARY    JOURNAL,   1780. 

to  our  brigade  ;  but  with  this  charge  I  am  left  en 
tirely  destitute  of  provisions.  Feeling  myself  autho 
rized  to  take  a  small  supply  from  the  inhabitants  for 
immediate  necessity,  I  required  from  a  Dutchman  four 
sheep  from  his  farm  ;  as  he  was  offended  and  made 
some  opposition,  I  was  obliged  to  force  them  from 
him,  giving  a  receipt,  that  he  might  recover  a  com 
pensation  from  the  public. 

28£A. — Our  army  has  returned  from  below,  with  a 
large  quantity  of  forage,  and  provisions  of  various 
kinds,  taken  from  the  disaffected  inhabitants  on  the 
lines.  This  affords  us  an  important  relief,  when 
almost  in  a  starving  condition.  A  small  party  of  the 
enemy  was  discovered  near  the  lines,  a  slight  skirmish 
ensued,,  and  they  soon  disappeared. 

29th. — I  accompanied  Captain  W.  to  the  village 
of  Charlestown,  met  Major  General   Schuyler,  and 
other  gentlemen,  at  a  tavern,  with  whom  we  dined. 
Here  I  learnt  that  a  duel   had  just  been  fought  be 
tween  Lieutenant  0.  and  Mr.   P.   both  of  Colonel 
Mayland's  regiment  of  dragoons,  and  both  of  whom 
were  yesterday  on  the  most  intimate  terms  of  friend 
ship.     Mr.  0.  killed  his  antagonist  on  the  spot,  and 
received  a  dangerous  wound  in   his  thigh.     When  I 
visited  him,  his  wound  had   been  dressed,  and  I  was 
astonished  at  the  calmness  and  composure  with  which 
lie  related  all  the  particulars  of  this  melancholy  and 
murderous  catastrophe,   and  the  agonizing  state  of 
mind  of  his  late  friend  in  his  dying  moments.     The 
duel  originated  in  a  trivial  misunderstanding  which 
excited  these  close  friends  to  assume  the  character  of 
assassins,  and  to  hazard  life  for  life.     Nor  did  0.  dis 
cover  the  least  sorrow  or  remorse  of  conscience,  for 
having  sacrificed  the  life  of  a  friend  and  valuable 
officer,  to  the  mistaken  points  of  honor  ! 

301/1. — Another  dreadful  appeal  has  this  day  been 
made  to  the  deadly  combat,  on  a  point  of  honor.  The 
parties  were  Lieutenant  S.  and  Mr.  L.  a  volunteer 
in  the  army  ;  the  latter  gentleman  fell  and  instantly 


MILITAUY    JOURNAL,  1780.  251 

expired  ;  his  murderer  escaped  uninjured.  Thus 
have  two  valuable  lives  been  sacrificed  within  two 
days,  to  what  is  termed  principles  of  honor,  or  rather 
to  the  vindictive  spirit  of  malice  and  revenge.  Is 
there  no  remedy  for  this  fashionable  folly,  this  awful 
blindness  and  perversion  of  mind,  this  barbarous  and 
infernal  practice,  this  foul  stain  on  the  history  of 
man  !  The  following  anecdote  is  in  point.  The 
practice  of  duelling  had  become  alarming  in  the 
Prussian  army,  and  the  great  Frederic  was  desirous 
of  checking  its  progress.  Two  officers  of  high  rank 
had  engaged  to  meet  in  personal  combat.  The  king 
commanded  that  they  should  fight  in  his  presence, 
and  at  a  time  and  place  which  he  appointed.  When 
the  parties  appeared,  they  were  astonished  to  find 
the  whole  army  paraded  to  witness  the  combat,  a 
gallows  erected,  and  a  halter  and  coffins  prepared. 
The  king  now  commanded  that  they  should  decide 
their  fate  in  his  presence,  and  that  the  survivor  should 
be  instantly  hung  on  the  gallows.  The  two  cham 
pions  were  appalled,  and  glad  to  implore  his  majes 
ty's  forgiveness;  and  this  example  proved  an  effec 
tual  remedy  against  duelling  in  th&  Prussian  army. 

September. — Intelligence  of  an  unpleasant  and 
distressing  nature,  has  just  reached  us  from  South 
Carolina.  Our  southern  army,  under  the  command 
of  Major  General  Gates,  has  been  totally  defeated,  in 
a  general  action  with  Lord  Cornwallis,  on  the  19th  of 
August.  General  Gates,  as  is  reported,  retreated 
with  precipitation  to  the  distance  of  eighty  miles,  to 
escape  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  This  mortifying 
disaster  gives  a  severe  shock  to  our  army,  as  it  must 
be  productive  of  the  most  important  and  serious 
consequences  as  it  respects  the  welfare  of  the  South 
ern  states.  In  his  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress, 
General  Gates  says,  "  In  the  deepest  distress  and 
anxiety  of  mind,  I  am  obliged  to  acquaint  your  Ex 
cellency  with  the  defeat  of  the  troops  under  my 
command."  The  letter  states  that  the  continental 


252  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

troops  displayed  their  usual  courage  and  bravery, 
but  at  the  first  onset  of  the  enemy,  the  whole  body 
of  militia  became  panic  struck,  were  completely  rout 
ed  and  ran  like  a  torrent,  bearing  all  before  them, 
and  leaving  the  continentals  to  oppose  the  whole 
force  of  the  enemy.  This  victory  was  not  obtain 
ed  without  loss  on  the  part  of  the  foe,  they  having 
upwards  of  five  hundred  men,  with  officers  in  pro 
portion,  killed  and  wounded.  The  whole  number 
of  continental  officers  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
is  forty  eight.  Among  the  killed,  is  Baron  de  Kalb, 
a  major  general ;  while  leading  on  the  Maryland  and 
Delaware  troops,  he  was  pierced  with  eleven  wounds, 
and  soon  after  expired.  He  was  a  German  by  birth, 
a  brave  and  meritorious  officer,  a  knight  of  the  order 
of  military  merit,  and  a  brigadier  general  in  the 
armies  of  France.  He  had  served  three  years,  with 
high  reputation,  in  the  American  army.  General 
Gates'  command  in  this  army  is  said  to  consist  of 
three  thousand,  of  which  number  were  only  nine 
hundred  continental  regulars.  The  royalists,  under 
Lord  Cornwallis,  were  upwards  of  three  thousand 
two  hundred,  and  a  great  part  of  them  regular  troops. 
This  very  unfortunate  event  has  given  an  impression 
universally  unfavorable  to  the  character  and  conduct 
of  General  Gates,  as  he  has  disappointed  the  high 
expectations  of  the  public.  He  is  indeed  a  painful 
example  of  the  vicissitudes  of  the  fortune  of  war ; 
but  it  ought  nt)t  to  be  expected  that  an  officer  should 
be  held  accountable  for  the  strokes  of  fortune ;  nor 
for  the  effects  of  superior  force  or  address  in  the 
enemy.  Considering  the  former  high  character  and 
meritorious  services  of  the  general,  we  cannot  justly 
suspect  him  to  be  chargeable  with  any  deficiency 
in  point  of  integrity  or  conduct,  and  time  and  inves 
tigation  must  decide  how  for  he  has  been  guilty  of 
any  culpable  error. 

5th. — Our  army  marched  from  Orarigetown,  and 
encamped  at  Steenrapie,  yesterday.     It  is  mortifying 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  253 

that  our  stock  of  provisions  is  again  exhausted ;  the 
soldiers  have  for  several  days  drawn  nothing  but  one 
pound  of  flour  a  man. 

8th.— I  had  again  the  honor  of  dining  at  the  table  of 
Baron  Steuben,  in  company  with  a  number  of  officers. 
Notwithstanding  the  scarcity  of  provisions  in  camp, 
the  baron's  table  continues  to  be  well  supplied  ;  his 
generosity  is  unbounded. 

10th. — We  are  now  lamenting  the  loss  of  Brigadier 
General  Poor,  who  died  last  night  of  putrid  fever. 
His  funeral  solemnities  have  been  attended  this  after 
noon.  The  corpse  was  brought  this  morning  from 
Paramus,  and  left  at  a  house  about  a  mile  from  the 
burying  yard  at  Hackinsack,  whence  it  was  attended 
to  the  place  of  interment  by  the  following  procession; 
a  regiment  of  light  infantry,  in  uniform,  with  arms 
reversed ;  four  field  pieces ;  Major  Lee's  regiment 
of  light  horse ;  General  Hand  and  his  brigade  ;  the 
Major  on  horseback  ;  two  chaplains;  the  horse  of 
the  deceased,  with  his  boots  and  spurs  suspended 
from  the  saddle,  led  by  a  servant ;  the  corpse,  borne 
by  four  Serjeants,  and  the  pall  supported  by  six 
general  officers.  The  coffin  was  of  mahogany,  and  a 
pair  of  pistols  and  two  swords,  crossing  each  other 
and  tied  with  black  crape,  were  placed  on  the  top. 
The  corpse  was  followed  by  the  officers  of  the  New 
Hampshire  brigade ;  the  officers  of  the  brigade  of 
light  infantry,  which  the  deceased  had  lately  com 
manded.  Other  officers  fell  in  promiscuously,  and  were 
followed  by  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  and 
other  general  officers.  Having  arrived  at  the  burying 
yard,  the  troops  opened  to  the  right  and  left,  resting 
on  their  arms  reversed,  and  the  procession  passed  to 
the  grave,  where  a  short  eulogy  was  delivered  by  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Evans.  A  band  of  music,  with  a  num 
ber  of  drums  and  fifes,  played  a  funeral  dirge,  the 
drums  were  muffled  with  black  crape,  and  the  offi 
cers  in  the  procession  wore  crape  round  the  left  arm. 
The  regiment  of  light  infantry,  were  in  handsome 


254  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

uniform,  and  wore  in  their  caps,  long  feathers  of 
black  and  red.  The  elegant  regiment  of  horse,  com 
manded  hy  Major  Lee,  being  in  complete  uniform 
and  well  disciplined,  exhibited  a  martial  and  noble 
appearance.  No  scene  can  exceed  in  grandeur  and 
solemnity  a  military  funeral.  The  weapons  of  war 
reversed,  and  embellished  with  the  badges  of  mourn 
ing,  the  slow  and  regular  step  of  the  procession,  the 
mournful  sound  of  the  unbraced  drum  and  deep  toned 
instruments,  playing  the  melancholy  dirge,  the  majes 
tic  mien  and  solemn  march  of  the  war  horse,  all  con 
spire  to  impress  the  mind  with  emotions  which  no 
language  can  describe,  and  which  nothing  but  the 
reality  can  paint  to  the  liveliest  imagination.  General 
Poor  was  from  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  He 
was  a  true  patriot,  who  took  an  early  part  in  the 
cause  of  his  country,  and  during  his  military  career, 
was  respected  for  his  talents  and  his  bravery,  and 
beloved  for  the  amiable  qualities  of  his  heart.  But 
it  is  a  sufficient  eulogy  to  say,  that  he  enjoyed  the 
confidence  and'  esteem  of  Washington. 

llth. — We  had  a  most  violent  shower  of  rain,  ac 
companied  with  tremendous  peals  of  thunder  and 
lightning ;  we  were  obliged  to  quit  our  beds  in  the 
night,  but  no  part  of  our  marquee  could  shield  us 
from  the  drenching  rain, — not  a  blanket  about  us  re 
mained  dry. 

12th. — A  soldier  was  executed  for  robbery ;  he 
was  one  of  five  who  broke  into  a  house  with  their 
arms,  and  robbed  the  inhabitants  of  a  sum  of  money 
and  many  valuable  articles.  He  conducted  with  for 
titude  at  the  gallows. 

IQth. — The  army  was  paraded  to  be  reviewed  by 
General  Washington,  accompanied  by  a  number  of 
Indian  chiefs.  His  Excellency,  mounted  on  his  noble 
bay  charger,  rode  in  front  of  the  line  of  the  army, 
and  received  the  usual  salute.  Six  Indian  chiefs 
followed  in  his  train,  appearing  as  the  most  disgust 
ing  and  contemptible  of  the  human  race  ;  their  faces 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1780.  255 

painted  of  various  colors,  their  hair  twisted  into 
bunches  on  the  top  of  their  heads,  and  dressed  in  a 
miserable  Indian  habit,  some  with  a  dirty  blanket 
over  the  shoulders,  and  others  almost  naked.  They 
were  mounted  on  horses  of  the  poorest  kind,  with  un 
dressed  sheep  skins,  instead  of  saddles,  and  old  ropes 
for  bridles.  These  bipeds  could  not  refrain  from 
the  indulgence  of  their  appetites  for  rum  on  this 
occasion,  and  some  of  them  fell  from  their  horses,  on 
their  return  to  head  quarters.  This  tribe  of  Indians 
is  friendly  to  America,  and  it  is  good  policy  to  show 
them  some  attention,  and  give  them  an  idea  of  the 
strength  of  our  army. 

20th. — The  army  decamped  from  Steenrapie  this 
morning,  and  encamped  at  Orangetown,  or  Tappan. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington,  with  the  Mar 
quis  de  la  Fayette  and  General  Knox,  with  a  splendid 
retinue,  left  camp  on  the  17th  instant,  bound  to  Hart 
ford  in  Connecticut,  to  have  an  interview  with  the 
commanding  officers  of  the  French  fleet  and  army, 
which  have  lately  arrived  at  Rhode  Island. 

Ihave  just  been  introduced  to  three  young  cler 
gymen,  from  Connecticut,  Mr.  Lockwood,  Mr.  Ely, 
and  Mr.  Joel  Barlow  ;  the  latter  is  a  chaplain  in  the 
Connecticut  line,  and  is  said  to  possess  a  poetical  ge 
nius.  Being  present  when  he  made  a  prayer  in  pub 
lic,  it  was  remarked  that  his  performance  was  very 
ordinary,  and  it  was  replied  that  the  gentleman  had 
not  been  much  accustomed  to  public  performances, 
and  that  he  was  more  calculated  to  attain  to  eminence 
in  the  art  of  poetry,  than  in  the  clerical  profession. 

2lst. — Major  General  Greene  succeeds  to  the  com 
mand  of  our  army,  in  the  absence  of  his  Excellency 
General  Washington.  This  gentleman  is  a  native  of 
the  state  of  Rhode  Island.  His  father  was  an  anchor 
smith,  and  his  business  in  that  line  was  very  exten 
sive.  He  was  a  member  of  the  society  of  Friends, 
and  when  about  to  engage  in  a  military  station,  they 
remonstrated  with  him,  as  war  was  a  violation  of  the 


256  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

established  principles  of  their  sect.  But  his  patrio 
tism  and  ardent  zeal  for  the  cause  of  liberty,  were 
irresistible,  and  he  was,  at  the  age  of  thirty,  appoint 
ed  a  brigadier  general,  by  his  government,  in  the  year 
1775.  After  the  battle  of  Lexington,  actuated  by 
a  native  martial  ardor,  he  repaired  to  Cambridge, 
and  with  the  troops  under  his  command,  joined 
the  continental  army  under  General  Washington. 
General  Greene  has  conducted  in  a  manner  to  meet 
the  expectations  and  full  approbation  of  the  public, 
and  has  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  general. 
By  his  military  talents,  skill  and  judgment,  he  has 
acquired  a  character  of  the  highest  order,  and  is 
held  in  respect  and  estimation  throughout  the  army, 
as  second  only  to  the  Commander  in  Chief.  It  is  the 
prevailing  sentiment,  that  if  in  any  event  of  Provi 
dence  we  should  be  deprived  of  our  chief  comman 
der,  General  Greene,  is  of  all  others,  the  most  suita 
ble  character  to  be  his  successor ;  and  in  this  senti 
ment  there  is  the  greatest  reason  to  believe  that  the 
illustrious  Washington  himself  would  readily  coin 
cide. 

26th. — At  three  o'clock  this  morning,  an  alarm  was 
spread  throughout  our  camp.  Two  regiments,  from 
the  Pennsylvania  line,  were  ordered  to  march  imme 
diately  to  West  Point,  and  the  whole  army  to  be  held 
in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning.  It  was 
soon  ascertained  that  this  sudden  movement  was  in 
consequence  of  the  discovery  of  one  of  the  most  ex 
traordinary  events  in  modern  history,  and  in  which 
the  interposition  of  Divine  Providence  is  remarka 
bly  conspicuous.  It  is  the  treacherous  conspiracy 
of  Major  General  Arnold,  and  the  capture  of  Major 
John  Andre,  adjutant  general  to  the  British  army. 
The  army  being  paraded  this  morning,  the  following 
communication  in  the  orders  of  General  Greene,  was 
read  by  the  adjutants  to  their  respective  regiments. 
"  Treason,  of  the  blackest  dye,  was  yesterday  dis 
covered.  General  Arnold,  who  commanded  at  West 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  257 

Point,  lost  to  every  sentiment  of  honor,  of  private  and 
public  obligation,  was  about  to  deliver  up  that  impor 
tant  post  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Such  an  event 
must  have  given  the  American  cause  a  dangerous,  if 
not  a  fatal  wound  ;  happily  the  treason  has  been  timely 
discovered,  to  prevent  the  fatal  misfortune.  The  pro 
vidential  train  of  circumstances,  which  led  to  it,  af 
fords  the  most  convincing  proofs  that  the  liberties  of 
America,  are  the  object  of  Divine  protection.  At 
the  same  time  that  the  treason  is  to  be  regretted,  the 
general  cannot  help  congratulating  the  army  on  the 
happy  discovery.  Our  enemies,  despairing  of  carry 
ing  their  point  by  force,  are  practising  every  base 
art,  to  effect  by  bribery  and  corruption,  what  they 
cannot  accomplish  in  a  manly  way.  Great  honor  is 
due  to  the  American  army,  that  this  is  the  first  in 
stance  of  treason  of  the  kind,  where  many  were  to 
be  expected  from  the  nature  of  our  dispute  ;  the 
brightest  ornament  in  the  character  of  the  American 
soldiers,  is,  their  having  been  proof  against  all  the 
arts  and  seductions  of  an  insidious  enemy.  Arnold 
has  made  his  escape  to  the  enemy,  but  Major  Andre, 
the  adjutant'  general  in  the  British  army,  who 
came  out  as  a  spy,  to  negotiate  the  business,  is  our 
prisoner." 

West  Point  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  high 
lands,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  sixty  miles 
above  New  York,  and  seven  below  Fishkill.  It  is 
a  strongly  fortified  castle,  which,  with  its  dependen 
cies,  is  considered  by  General  Washington  as  the  key 
which  locks  the  communication  between  the  eastern, 
and  southern  states  ;  and  of  all  the  posts  in  the 
United  States,  this  is  the  most  important.  The  posi 
tion  is  remarkably  well  calculated  by  nature  for  a  de 
fensive  post,  being  on  a  bend  of  the  river  with  rocky 
ridges  rising  one  above  another,  and  the  lofty  sum 
mit  is  covered  with  a  range  of  redoubts  and  batteries, 
planned  by  the  most  skilful  engineers.  The  most 
elevated  and  formidable  fortress,  is  erected  on  a  natu- 
33 


258  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

ral  platform  of  rocks  very  steep,  and  almost  inacces 
sible  on  every  side  ;  this  is  called  "  Fort  Putnam/" 
from  the  general  who  had  the  principal  share  in  its 
plan  and  construction.     It  overlooks  the  whole  plain 
below,  and  commands  a  landscape  view  thirty  miles 
in  extent,  the  Hudson  having  the  appearance  of  a 
vast  canal,  cut  through  huge  mountains.     As  addi 
tional  security,  an  iron  chain  of  immense  strength,  is 
thrown  across  at  the  short  bend  of  the  river,  and 
fixed  to  huge  blocks  on  each  shore,  and  under  the 
fire  of  batteries  on  both  sides  the  river.     The  links 
of  this  chain  are  about  twelve  inches  wide,  and  eigh 
teen  long,  the  bars  about  two  inches  square.     It  is 
buoyed  up  by  very  large  logs,  of  about  sixteen  feet 
long,  pointed  at  the  ends  to  lessen  their  opposition 
to  the  force  of  the  current,  at  flood  and  ebb  tide. 
The  logs  are  placed  at  short  distances  from   each 
other,  the  chain  carried  over  them  and  made  fast  to 
each  by  staples.     There  are  also  a  number  of  an 
chors  dropped  at  proper  distances,  with  cables  made 
fast  to  the  chain  to  give  it  a  greater  stability.     Such 
is  the  formidable  state  and  strength  of  this  post,  that 
it  has  received  the  appellation  of  the  American  Gib 
raltar,  and  when  properly  guarded,  may  bid  defiance 
to  an  army  of  twenty  thousand  men.     General  Arnold 
was  well  apprized  of  the  great  importance  of  this  for 
tress  ;  no  position  in  America  could  afford  the  British 
greater  advantages.     It  commands  the  whole  extent 
of  country  on  the  Hudson,  from  New  York  to  Canada, 
and  secures  a  communication  between  the  eastern  and 
southern  states. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  American  war, 
General  Arnold  has  been  viewed  in  the  light  of  a 
brave  and  heroic  officer,  having  exhibited  abundant 
prQof  of  his  military  ardor,  and  invincible  temper. 
He  has  fought  in  various  battles,  with  an  intrepid  gal 
lantry  which  cannot  be  exceeded,  and  it  is  from  his 
bravery  in  the  field,  more  than  any  intrinsic  merit, 
that  his  character  and  fame  have  been  established. 


MILITAHY    JOURNAL,  1780.  259 

His  meritorious  services  have  been  amply  rewarded 
by  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  major  general,  but 
his  name  will  now  be  transmitted  to  posterity  with 
marks  of  infamy,  and  the  pages  of  our  history  will 
be  tarnished  by  the  record  of  crimes,  of  the  most 
atrocious  character,  by  a  native  of  our  land.  After 
the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British,  Arnold 
was  appointed  to  the  command  in  that  city,  and  such 
was  his  conduct,  as  respects  both  his  official  station, 
and  individual  concerns,  that  his  former  standing  and 
important  services,  could  no  longer  shield  him  from 
public  odium,  and  the  just  censure  of  the  govern 
ment.*  Being  afterward,  by  his  own  solicitation, 
entrusted  with  the  command  of  the  post  at  West 
Point,  he  engaged  in  a  secret  correspondence  with 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  actually  agreed  to  put  him  in 
possession  of  this  very  important  garrison.  The  Bri 
tish  general,  ever  ready  to  avail  himself  of  treachery, 
to  accomplish  an  object  which  he  could  not  achieve 
by  the  strength  of  his  arms,  selected  Major  John  An 
dre,  his  adjutant  general  and  aid  de  camp,  to  have  a 
personal  interview  with  the  traitor,  to  mature  the 
plan,  and  make  arrangements  for  the  surrender  of  the 
post.  A  British  sloop  of  war,  called  the  Vulture, 
came  up  the  North  river,  and  anchored  near  King's 
ferry,  about  twelve  miles  below  West  Point.  On 
board  of  this  vessel  were  a  Colonel  Robinson,  and 
Major  Andre,  under  the  assumed  name  of  John  An 
derson.  A  communication  was  now  maintained  be 
tween  Arnold,  and  the  persons  on  board  the  Vulture, 
without  exciting  the  least  suspicion  of  treasonable  de 
signs.  But  a  personal  interview  was  found  necessa 
ry,  and  the  place  chosen  for  this  purpose  was  the 
beach  near  the  house  of  Joshua  Smith,  Esquire,  who 
has  long  been  suspected  of  a  predilection  for  the  Bri 
tish  interest.  In  the  night  of  the  21st  instant,  Smith, 
by  the  desire  of  Arnold,  went  with  a  boat,  rowed  by 

*  See  life  of  Arnold  in  the  Appendix. 


260  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

some  men  employed  on  his  farm,  and  brought  Major 
Andre,  alias  John  Anderson,  on  shore,  where  he  was 
received  by  Arnold,  and  conducted  to  the  house  of 
Smith,  within  our  lines.     Andre  remained  concealed 
at  Smith's  house  till  the  following  night,  when  he 
became  extremely  anxious   to  return  on  board  the 
Vulture ;  but  the  boatmen,  whom  Arnold  and  Smith 
had  seduced  to  bring  him  on  shore  the  preceding 
night,  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  reconduct  him 
on  board,  as  the  Vulture  had  been  driven  from  her 
station  by  a  cannon  on  shore.     Finding  it  impossible 
to  procure  a  boat  and  men  for  the  purpose,  it  was  re 
solved  that  Andre  should  return  to  New  York  by 
land,  to  which  he  reluctantly  submitted,  as  the  only 
alternative,  to  escape  the  danger  into  which  he  had 
been  betrayed.     For  this  hazardous  attempt  Arnold 
and   Smith  furnished  him  with  a  horse,  and  with 
clothes,  in  exchange  for  his  military  uniform  ;  and 
Arnold  gave  him  a  passport  under  the  fictitious  name 
of  John  Anderson,  as  being  on  public  business.     Thus 
prepared,   and  accompanied  by  Smith  part  of  the 
way,   he  proceeded  on  his  journey.     The  passport 
served  his  purpose  till  he  got  beyond  all  our  out 
posts  and  guards,  without  suspicion.     They  lodged 
together  at  Crompond  that  night,  and  Smith  having 
given  him  directions  about  the  road,  left  him  the  next 
morning,  within  about  thirty  miles  of  New  York. 
Having  arrived  atTarrytown,  however,  near  the  lines 
of  the  royal  army,   Andre  was  arrested  by  one  of 
three  men,   who  were  patrolling  between  the  out 
posts  of  the  two  armies.     He  held  his  horse  by  the 
bridle,  till  his  two  companions  came  from  their  con 
cealment,  to  his  assistance.     This  was  the  moment 
which  was  to  decide  the  fate  of  the  adjutant  general 
of  the  royal  army.     Alarmed  and  disconcerted,  in 
stead  of  producing  his  passport,  he  asked  where  they 
belonged  ?    they  replied,   "  To  below,"  alluding  to 
New  York,   "  And  so  do  I,"  said  Andre,   "I  am  a 
British  officer,  on  urgent  business,  and  must  not  be 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  261 

detained."  He  was  soon,  however,  undeceived,  and 
confounded  on  being  obliged  to  yield  himself  a  pris 
oner,  and  finding  his  passport,  though  having  the 
authority  of  Arnold's  signature,  availed  him  nothing. 
His  captors  suspecting  that  they  had  taken  a  val 
uable  prize,  resolved  to  hold  him  in  durance,  and 
realize  his  worth.  The  unfortunate  prisoner  now  pro 
duced  his  gold  watch,  and  said,  "  this  will  convince 
you  that  I  am  a  gentleman,  and  if  you  will  suffer  me 
to  pass,  I  will  send  to  New  York,  and  give  you  any 
amount  you  shall  name,  in  cash,  or  in  dry  goods  ;"# 
and,  pointing  to  an  adjacent  wood,  "  you  may  keep 
me  in  that  wood  till  it  shall  be  delivered  to  you." 
All  his  offers,  however,  were  rejected  with  disdain, 
and  they  declared  that  ten  thousand  guineas,  or  any 
other  sum,  would  be  no  temptation.  It  is  to  their 
virtue,  no  less  glorious  to  America,  than  Arnold's 
apostacy  is  disgraceful,  that  his  detestable  crimes  are 
discovered.  Their  names  are  John  Paulding,  David 
Williams,  and  Isaac  Van  Vertf  Taking  their  priso 
ner  into  the  bushes,  to  undergo  a  search  and  exami 
nation,  they  found  concealed  in  his  boots,  the  impor 
tant  papers,  containing  exact  returns  of  the  state  of 
the  forces,  ordnance  and  defences  at  West  Point,  and 
its  dependencies,  with  critical  remarks  on  the  works, 
with  a  return  of  the  number  of  troops  at  West  Point, 

*  English  goods  were,  at  that  time,  more  valuable  than  gold  or  silver. 
It  has  in  general  been  understood,  that  Andre  offered  his  captors  his 
horse,  his  purse,  and  a  valuable  watch,  but  Dr.  Eustis  assures  me  that 
the  above  are  the  facts,  as  stated  to  him  by  Isaac  Van  'Vert,  who  first 
stopped  Andre. 

t  Congress  resolved  "That  they  have  a  high  sense  of  the  virtuous  and 
patriotic  conduct  of  John  Paulding,  David  Williams,  and  Isaac  Van 
Vert,  In  testimony  whereof,  ordered,  that  each  of  them  receive  annu 
ally,  two  hundred  dollars  in  specie,  or  an  equivalent  in  the  current 
money  of  these  States,  during  life,  and  that  the  Board  of  War  be  direct 
ed  to  procure  each  of  them  a  silver  medal,  on  one  side  of  which  shall  be 
a  shield  with  this  inscription,  Fidelity,  and  on  the  other,  the  following 
motto,  Vincit  amor  Patrice,,  and  forward  them  to  the  commander  in 
chief,  who  is  requested  to  present  the  same  with  a  copy  of  this  resolu 
tion,  and  the  thanks  of  Congress  for  their  fidelity,  and  the  eminent  ser 
vice  they  have  rendered  their  country. 


262  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

and  their  distribution  ;  copies  of  confidential  letters 
from  General  Washington,  &c.  &c.,  all  in  the  hand 
writing  of  General  Arnold.  Besides  which,  it  is  as 
certained  that  the  traitor  carried  with  him  to  the  in 
terview,  a  general  plan  of  West  Point  and  its  vicini 
ty,  and  all  the  works,  and  also  particular  plans  of 
each  work  on  a  large  scale,  elegantly  drawn  by  the 
engineer  at  that  post.  But  these  were  not  given  up 
to  Major  Andre,  it  is  supposed  they  were  to  be  de 
livered  at  a  future  time.  The  captors  now  very 
properly  delivered  their  prisoner,  with  the  papers 
found  on  him,  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Jameson,  the  commanding  officer  on  our  lines.  An 
dre,  with  the  view,  no  doubt,  of  giving  Arnold  an 
opportunity  to  escape,  had  the  address  to  induce 
Colonel  Jameson  to  inform  the  traitor,  by  letter,  that 
John  Anderson  was  taken  on  his  way  to  New  York. 
It  is  probable  that  Colonel  Jameson  had  not  examined 
the  papers  in  his  possession,  or  it  may  well  be  suppos 
ed,  that  having  such  ample  evidence  before  him/he 
would  have  hesitated  before  complying  with  this  re 
quest  ;  but  unsuspicious  of  treachery,  and  under  the 
embarrassment  of  the  moment,  as  though  his  mind 
was  bewildered,  or  devoid  of  reason,  he  immediately 
despatched  an  express  to  Arnold,  at  Robinson's  house, 
with  the  intelligence. 

After  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  for  Arnold  to 
receive  the  information  and  make  his  escape,  Major 
Andre  declared  himself,  to  Colonel  Jameson,  to  be  the 
Adjutant  General  of  the  British  army.  Sensible  of 
the  finesse  which  had  been  practised  on  him,  Col 
onel  Jameson  now  despatched  an  express  to  meet 
General  Washington,  on  his  return  from  Hartford  to 
Arnold's  quarters,  with  an  account  of  the  capture  of 
Major  Andre,  and  the  papers  which  were  found  on 
him,  and  this  was  accompanied  by  a  letter  from  the 
prisoner  disclosing  to  his  Excellency  his  real  charac 
ter  and  condition,  and  relating  the  manner  of  his 
capture,  &c.  It  unfortunately  happened  that  the  ex- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  263 

press  took  a  different  road  and  missed  of  meeting  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  and  Arnold  first  received  the 
information  about  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
15th  instant.     At  this  moment  Major  Shaw  and  Dr. 
McHenry,  two  of  his  Excellency's  aids,  had  arrived 
and  were  at  breakfast  at  Arnold's  table.     Bis  confu 
sion  was  visible,  but  no  one  could  devise  the  cause. 
Struck  with  the  pressing  danger  of  his  situation,  ex 
pecting  General  Washington  would  soon  arrive,  the 
guilty  traitor  called  instantly  for  a  "  horse,  any  one, 
even  if  a  wagon  horse" — bid  a  hasty  adieu  to  his 
wife  and  enjoined  a  positive  order  on  the  messenger 
not  to  inform  that  he  was  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from 
Colonel  Jameson,  and  having  repaired  to  his  barge,  he 
ordered  the  cockswain  with  eight  oarsmen  to  proceed 
down  the  river,  and  he  was  soon  on  board  the  Vulture, 
which  Andre  had  left  two  nights  before,  and  which 
immediately  sailed  with  her  prize  for  New  York. 
General   Washington  arrived  about   twelve    o'clock, 
and  was  informed  that  Arnold  had  absented  himself, 
saying  he  was  going  to  West  Point,  and  should  soon 
return.     His  Excellency  passed  over  the  river  to 
view  t£e  works  there,  but  not  finding  Arnold  at  his 
post  he  returned  in  the  hope  of  meeting  him  at  his 
quarters.     But  here  he  was  again  disappointed,  for 
no    person   could   account  for   his   absence.      Mrs. 
Arnold  was  now  in   her  chamber,  in  great  agitation 
and  distress,  deprived  of  her  reason,  and  Dr.  Eustis 
in  attendance.      At  a  lucid  interval  she  inquired  of 
the   doctor  if  General  Washington  was  in  the  house, 
desiring  to  see  him.     Believing  that  she  intended 
to  say  something  which  would  explain  the  secret  of 
Arnold's  unaccountable  absence  he  hastened  below, 
and  conducted  the  general  to  her  chamber,  who  re 
mained  no  longer  than  to  hear  her  deny  that  he  was 
General  Washington,  and  to  witness  the  return  of 
her  distraction.    His  Excellency  sat  down  to  dine,  but 
scon  rose  from  table  with  apparent  agitation,  called 
out  Colonel  Lamb,  the   commander  of  artillery  at 


264  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

West  Point,  and  expressed  to  him  his  suspicion  that 
Arnold  had  deserted  to  the  enemy.  In  less  than 
two  hours  it  was  ascertained  that  the  conjecture  was 
too  well  founded,  for  the  despatches  arrived  from 
Colonel  Jameson,  with  an  account  of  the  capture  of 
Major  Andre,  accompanied  by  his  own  letter  of  con 
fession.  Major  Andre  was  conducted  to  West  Point, 
and  thence  to  head  quarters  at  Tappan,  and  a  board, 
consisting  of  fourteen  general  officers,  is  constituted 
and  directed  to  sit  on  the  29th  instant,  for  his  trial. 
It  was  to  be  expected  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  would 
make  every  possible  overture  and  exertion  with  the 
hope  of  rescuing  his  friend,  and  the  adjutant  general 
of  his  army,  from  an  ignominious  death.  Accord 
ingly  he  addressed  General  Washington,  claimed  the 
release  of  Major  Andre,  alleging  that  he  ought  not  to 
be  considered  in  the  character  of  a  spy,  as  he  had 
a  passport  from,  and  wras  transacting  business  under 
the  sanction  of  General  Arnold  ;  but  arguments  so 
obviously  absurd  and  futile  could  have  no  influence, 
and  the  prisoner  was  ordered  before  the  military 
tribunal  for  trial,  and  the  following  are  the  particu 
lars  of  their  proceedings. 

Major  Andre,  Adjutant  General  to  the  British 
army,  was  brought  before  the  board,  and  the  following 
letter  from  General  Washington  to  the  board,  dated 
Head  Quarters,  Tappan,  September  29th,  1780,  was 
laid  before  them  and  read. 

GENTLEMEN, 

"  Major  Andre,  Adjutant  General  to  the  British 
army,  will  be  brought  before  you,  for  your  examina 
tion.  He  came  within  our  lines  in  the  night,  on  an 
interview  with  Major  General  Arnold,  and  in  an 
assumed  character ;  and  was  taken  within  our  lines, 
in  a  disguised  habit,  with  a  pass  under  a  feigned 
name,  and  with  the  enclosed  papers  concealed  on 
him.  After  a  careful  examination,  you  will  be  pleased 
as  speedily  as  possible  to  report  a  precise  state  of 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  265 

his  case,  together  with  your  opinion  of  the  light  in 
which  he  ought  to  be  considered,  and  the  punishment 
that  ought  to  be  inflicted.  The  Judge  Advocate  will 
attend  to  assist  in  the  examination,  who  has  sundry 
other  papers  relative  to  this  matter,  which  he  will 
lay  before  the  Board. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Gentlemen,  your 

most  olredient  and  humble  servant, 

G.  WASHINGTON. 
To  the  Board  of  General  Officers,  ) 

convened  at  Tappan.  \ 

The  names  of  the  officers  composing  the  Board 
were  read  to  Major  Andre,  with  the  following  letter 
of  his  to  General  Washington,  namely  : 

Salem,  24th  September,  1780. 
«  SIR, 

66  What  I  have  as  yet  said,  concerning  myself,  was 
in  the  justifiable  attempt  to  be  extricated  ;  I  am  too 
little  accustomed  to  duplicity  to  have  succeeded. 

"I  beg  your  Excellency  will  be  persuaded,  that  no 
alteration  in  the  temper  of  my  mind,  or  apprehen 
sion  for  my  safety,  induces  me  to  take  the  step  of 
addressing  you,  but  that  it  is  to  secure  myself  from 
an  imputation  of  having  assumed  a  mean  character 
for  treacherous  purposes  or  self  interest — a  conduct 
incompatible  with  the  principles  that  actuated  me, 
as  well  as  with  my  condition  in  life. 

"  It  is  to  vindicate  my  fame,  that  I  speak,  and  not 
to  solicit  security. 

66  The  person  in  your  possession,  is  Major  John 
Andre,  Adjutant  General  to  the  British  army. 

"  The  influence  of  one  commander  in  the  army  of 
his  adversary  is  an  advantage  taken  in  war.  I  agreed 
to  meet  on  ground  not  within  the  posts  of  either  army, 
a  person  who  was  to  give  me  intelligence ;  I  came 
tip  in  the  Vulture,  man  of  war,  for  this  effect,  and  was 
fetched  by  a  boat  from  the  shore  to  the  beach  :  being 
34 


266  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

there,  I  was  told  that  the  approach  of  day  would 
prevent  my  return,  and  that  I  must  be  concealed  till 
the  next  night.  I  was  in  my  regimentals  and  had 
fairly  risked  my  person. 

"  Against  my  stipulation,  my  intention,  and  with 
out  my  knowledge  before  hand,  I  was  conducted 
within  one  of  your  posts.  Your  Excellency  may  con 
ceive  my  sensation  on  this  occasion,  and  will  imagine 
how  much  more  I  must  have  been  affected  by  a  re 
fusal  to  reconduct  me  back  the  next  night,  as  I  had 
been  brought.  Thus  become  a  prisoner,  I  had  to 
concert  my  escape.  /  quitted  my  uniform,  and 
was  passed  another  way  in  the  night,  without  the 
American  posts  to  neutral  ground,  and  informed,  I 
was  beyond  all  armed  parties  and  left  to  press  for 
New  York.  I  was  taken  at  Tarry  town  by  some 
volunteers. 

"  Thus  as  I  have  had  the  honor  to  relate,  was  I 
betrayed  into  the  vile  condition  of  an  enemy  in  dis 
guise  within  your  posts. 

"  Having  avowed  myself  a  British  officer,  I  have 
nothing  to  reveal  but  what  relates  to  myself,  which 
is  true  on  the  honor  of  an  officer  and  a  gentle 
man. 

66  The  request  I  have  to  make  your  Excellency, 
and  I  am  conscious  I  address  myself  well,  is  that  in 
any  rigor  \vhich  policy  may  dictate,  a  decency  of 
conduct  towards  me,  may  evince  that  though  unfor 
tunate,  I  am  branded  with  nothing  dishonorable,  as 
no  motive  could  be  mine  but  the  service  of  my  king, 
and  as  I  was  involuntarily  an  impostor. 

"  Another  request  is,  that  I  may  be  permitted 
to  write  an  open  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and 
another  to  a  friend  for  clothes  and  linen. 

"  I  take  the  liberty  to  mention  the  condition  of 
some  gentlemen  at  Charleston,  who,  being  either  on 
parole  or  under  protection,  were  engaged  in  a  con 
spiracy  against  us.  Though  their  situation  is  not 
similar,  they  are  objects  who  may  be  set  in  exchange 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  267 

ibr  me,  or  are  persons  whom  the  treatment  I  receive 
might  affect. 

"  It  is  no  less,  Sir,  in  a  confidence  in  the  genero 
sity  of  your  mind,  than  on  account  of  your  superior 
station,  that  I  have  chosen  to  importune  you  with 
this  letter.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  re 
spect,  Sir,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  and  most 
humble  servant, 

JOHN  ANDRE,  Adjutant  General." 
His  Excellency  General  Washington,  fyc.  <§-c.  8?c. 

and  on  being  asked  whether  he  confessed  or  denied 
the  matters  contained  in  this  letter,  he  acknowledged 
the  letter,  and  in  addition  stated,  that  he  came  on 
shore  from  the  Vulture,  sloop  of  war,  in  the  night 
of  the  21st  of  September,  instant,  somewhere  under 
the  Haverstraw  Mountain.  That  the  boat  he  came 
on  shore  in,  carried  no  flag,  and  that  he  had  on 
a  surtout  coat  over  his  regimentals,  and  that  he 
wore  his  surtout  coat  when  he  was  taken.  That  he 
met  General  Arnold  on  the  shore,  and  had  an  inter 
view  with  him  there.  He  also  said,  that  when 
he  left  the  Vulture,  sloop  of  war,  it  was  under 
stood,  he  was  to  return  that  night ;  but  it  was  then 
doubted,  and  if  he  could  not  return,  he  was  promised 
to  be  concealed  on  shore  in  a  place  of  safety  till  the 
next  night,  when  he  was  to  return  in  the  same  manner 
he  came  on  shore,  and  when  the  next  day  came,  he 
was  solicitous  to  get  back,  and  made  inquiries  in  the 
course  of  the  day  how  he  should  return,  when  he 
was  informed  he  could  not  return  that  way,  and 
he  must  take  the  route  he  did  afterwards.  He  also 
said,  that  the  first  notice  he  had  of  his  being  within 
any  of  our  posts,  was,  his  being  challenged  by  the 
sentry,  which  was  the  first  night  he  was  on  shore. 
He  also  said,  that  in  the  evening  of  the  22d  of  Sep 
tember,  instant,  he  passed  King's  ferry,  between  our 
posts  of  Stony  and  Verplantfs  Points,  in  the  dress 
he  is  at  present  in,  and  ivhich  he  said  ivas  not  his 


268  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

regimentals,  and  which  dress  he  procured  after  he 
landed  from  the  Vulture,  and  when  he  was  within 
our  post,  and  that  he  was  proceeding  to  New  York, 
but  was  arrested  at  Tarrytown,  as  he  has  mentioned 
in  his  letter,  on  Saturday,  the  23d  of  September, 
instant,  about  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  Board  having  interrogated  Major  Andre, 
about  his  conception  of  his  coming  on  shore  under 
the  sanction  of  a  flag,  he  said,  that  it  ivas  impossible 
for  him  to  suppose  he  came  on  shore  under  that 
sanction,  and  added,  that  if  he  came  on  shore  under 
that  sanction,  he  certainly  might  have  returned  un 
der  it. 

Major  Andre  having  acknowledged  the  preceding 
facts,  and  being  asked  whether  he  had  any  thing  to 
say  respecting  them,  answered,  he  left  them  to  oper 
ate  with  the  Board. 

The  examination  of  Major  Andre  being  concluded, 
he  was  remanded  into  custody. 

"  The  Board  having  considered  tlfoe  letter  from  his 
Excellency,  General  Washington,  respecting  Major 
Andre,  Adjutant  General  to  the  British  army,  the 
confession  of  Major  Andre,  and  the  papers  produced 
to  them,  report  to  his  Excellency,  the  Commander 
in  Chief,  the  following  facts,  which  appear  to  them 
relative  to  Major  Andre.  First,  that  he  came  on 
shore  from  the  Vulture,  sloop  of  war,  in  the  night  of 
the  21st  of  September,  instant,  on  an  interview  with 
General  Arnold,  in  a  private  and  secret  manner. 
Secondly,  that  he  changed  his  dress  within  our  lines 
and  under  a  feigned  name,  and  disguised  habit,  pass 
ed  our  works  at  Stony  and  Verplank's  Points,  in  the 
evening  of  the  22d  of  September,  instant,  and  was 
taken  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  September,  at  Tarry- 
town,  in  a  disguised  habit,  being  then  on  his  way  to 
New  York ;  and  when  taken  he  had  in  his  posses 
sion  several  papers  which  contained  intelligence  for 
the  enemy.  The  Board  having  maturely  considered 
these  facts,  do  also  report  to  his  Excellency  General 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  269 

Washington,  that  Major  Andre,  Adjutant  General 
to  the  British  army,  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  spy 
from  the  enemy,  and  that  agreeably  to  the  law  and 
usage  of  nations  it  is  their  opinion  he  ought  to  suffer 
death." 

Signed, 

NATHANIEL  GREENE,  Major  General  and  President 
STIRLING,  "  " 

ST.  CLAIR,  "          " 

LA  FAYETTE,  "          " 

R.  HOWE,  «          « 

STEUBEN,  "          " 

SAMUEL  H.  PARSONS,  Brigadier  General. 
JAMES  CLINTON,  "  " 

HENRY  KNOX,  «  "         Artillery. 

JOHN  GLOVER,  "  *fc 

JOHN  PATERSON,  "  " 

EDWARD  HAND,  "  " 

JOHN  HUNTINGTON,          "  " 

JOHN  STARK,  "  " 

JOHN  LAWRENCE,  Judge  Advocate  General. 

Head  Quarters,      > 
September  30/A,  1780.$ 

"  The  Commander  in  Chief  approves  of  the  opinion 
of  the  Board  of  General  Officers,  respecting  Major 
Andre,  and  orders  that  the  execution  of  Major  Andre 
take  place  tomorrow,  at  five  o'clock,  p.  M." 

During  the  trial  of  this  unfortunate  officer,  he  con 
ducted  with  unexampled  magnanimity  and  dignity 
of  character.  He  very  freely  and  candidly  confessed 
all  the  circumstances  relative  to  himself,  and  carefully 
avoided  every  expression  that  might  have  a  tendency 
to  implicate  any  other  person.  So  firm  and  dignified 
was  he  in  his  manners,  and  so  honorable  in  all  his 
proceedings  on  this  most  trying  occasion,  that  he 
excited  universal  interest  in  his  favor.  He  request- 


270  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

ed  only  to  die  the  death  of  a  soldier,  and  not  on  a 
gibbet.  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  very  pathetic 
letter  from  Major  Andre  to  General  Washington, 
dated 

Tappan,  October  1st,  1780. 
«  SIR, 

"  Buoyed  above  the  terrors  of  death,  by  the  con 
sciousness  of  a  life  devoted  to  honorable  pursuits,  and 
stained  with  no  action  that  can  give  me  remorse,  I 
trust  that  the  request  I  make  to  your  Excellency  at 
this  serious  period,  and  which  is  to  soften  my  last 
moments,  will  not  be  rejected.  Sympathy  towards  a 
soldier  will  surely  induce  your  Excellency,  and  a 
military  tribunal,  to  adapt  the  mode  of  my  death  to 
the  feelings  of  a  man  of  honor.  Let  me  hope,  Sir, 
if  aught  in  my  character  impresses  you  with  esteem 
towards  me,  if  aught  in  my  misfortunes  marks  me  as 
the  victim  of  policy,  and  not  of  resentment,  I  shall 
experience  the  operation  of  these  feelings  in  your 
breast  by  being  informed  that  I  am  not  to  die  on  a 
gibbet. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  Excellency's  most 
obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

JOHN  ANDRE,  Adjutant  General 
to  the  British  army. 

This  moving  letter,  as  may  be  supposed,  affected 
the  mind  of  General  Washington  with  the  tenderest 
sympathy,  and  it  is  reported  that  he  submitted  it  to 
a  council  of  general  officers,  who  decided  that  as 
Major  Andre  was  condemned  as  a  spy,  the  circum 
stances  of  the  case  would  not  admit  of  the  request 
being  granted,  and  his  Excellency,  from  a  desire  to 
spare  the  feelings  of  the  unfortunate  man,  declined 
making  a  reply  to  the  letter. 

October  1st. — I  went  this  afternoon  to  witness  the 
execution  of  Major  Andre, — a  large  concourse  of 
people  had  assembled,  the  gallows  was  erected,  and 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  271 

the  grave  and  coffin  prepared  to  receive  the  remains 
of  this  celebrated  but  unfortunate  ofiicer ;  but  a  flag  of 
truce  arrived  with  a  communication  from  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  making  another  and  further  proposals  for  the 
release  of  Major  Andre,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  execution  is  postponed  till  tomorrow,  at  twelve 
o'clock. 

The  flag  which  came  out  this  morning  brought  Gen 
eral  Robertson,  Andrew  Eliot,  and  William  Smith, 
Esquires,  for  the  purpose  of  pleading  for  the  release 
of  Major  Andre,  the  royal  army  being  in  the  greatest 
affliction  on  the  occasion.  The  two  latter  gentlemen, 
not  being  military  officers,  W7ere  not  permitted  to 
land,  but  General  Greene  was  appointed  by  his  Ex 
cellency  to  meet  General  Robertson  at  Dobb's  ferry 
and  to  receive  his  communications.  He  had  nothing 
material  to  urge  but  that  Andre  had  come  on  shore 
under  the  sanction  of  a  flag,  and  therefore  could  not 
be  considered  as  a  spy.  But  this  is  not  true  ;  he 
came  on  shore  in  the  night  and  had  no  flag,  on  busi 
ness  totally  incompatible  with  the  nature  of  a  flag. 
Besides,  Andre  himself,  candidly  confessed  on  his 
trial,  that  he  did  not  consider  himself  under  the  sanc 
tion  of  a  flag.  General  Robertson,  having  failed  in  his 
point,  requested  that  the  opinion  of  disinterested 
persons  might  be  taken,  and  proposed  Generals 
Knyphausen,  and  Rochambeau  as  proper  persons. 
After  this  he  had  recourse  to  threats  of  retaliation 
on  some  people  in  New  York  and  Charleston,  but 
he  was  told  that  such  conversation  could  neither  be 
heard  nor  understood.  He  next  urged  the  release 
of  Andre  on  motives  of  humanity,  saying,  he  wished 
an  intercourse  of  such  civilities  as  might  lessen  the 
horrors  of  war,  and  cited  instances  of  General  Clin 
ton's  merciful  disposition,  adding  that  Andre  possess 
ed  a  great  share  of  that  gentleman's  affection  and 
esteem,  and  that  he  would  be  infinitely  obliged  if  he 
was  spared.  He  offered,  that  if  his  earnest  wishes 
were  complied  with,  to  engage  that  any  prisoner  iu 


27%  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780. 

their  possession,  whom  General  Washington  might 
name,  should  immediately  be  set  at  liberty.  But  it 
must  be  viewed  as  the  height  of  absurdity  that  Gen 
eral  Robertson  should,  on  this  occasion,  suffer  himself 
to  be  the  bearer  of  a  letter  which  the  vile  traitor 
had  the  consummate  effrontery  to  write  to  General 
Washington.  This  insolent  letter  is  filled  with 
threats  of  retaliation,  and  the  accountability  of  his 
Excellency  for  the  torrents  of  blood  that  might  be 
spilt  if  he  should  order  the  execution  of  Major 
Andre.  It  should  seem  impossible  that  General 
Robertson  could  suppose  that  such  insolence  would 
receive  any  other  treatment  than  utter  contempt. 

October  2d. — Major  Andre  is  no  more  among  the 
living.  I  have  just  witnessed  his  exit.  It  was  a 
tragical  scene  of  the  deepest  interest.  During  his 
confinement  and  trial,  he  exhibited  those  proud  and 
elevated  sensibilities  which  designate  greatness  and 
dignity  of  mind.  Not  a  murmur  or  a  sigh  ever 
escaped  him,  and  the  civilities  and  attentions  bestow 
ed  on  him  were  politely  acknowledged.  Having  left 
a  mother  and  two  sisters  in  England,  he  was  heard 
to  mention  them  in  terms  of  the  tenderest  affection, 
and  in  his  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  he  recom 
mends  them  to  his  particular  attention. 

The  principal  guard  officer  who  was  constantly  in 
the  room  with  the  prisoner,  relates  that  when  the 
hour  of  his  execution  was  announced  to  him  in  the 
morning,  he  received  it  without  emotion,  and  while 
all  present  were  affected  with  silent  gloom,  he  retain 
ed  a  firm  countenance,  with  calmness  and  composure 
of  mind.  Observing  his  servant  enter  the  room  in 
tears,  he  exclaimed,  "leave  me  till  you  can  show 
yourself  more  manly ."  His  breakfast  being  sent  to 
him  from  the  table  of  General  Washington,  which 
had  been  done  every  day  of  his  confinement,  he 
partook  of  it  as  usual,  and  having  shaved  and  dress 
ed  himself,  he  placed  his  hat  on  the  table,  and  cheer 
fully  said  to  the  guard  officers,  "  I  am  ready  at  any 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  273 

moment,  gentlemen,  to  wait  on  you."     The  fatal  hour 
having  arrived,   a  large   detachment  of  troops  was 
paraded,  and  an  immense  concourse  of  people  assem 
bled  ;  almost  all  our  general  and  field  officers,  ex 
cepting  his  Excellency  and  his  staff,  were  present  on 
horseback  ;  melancholy  and  gloom  pervaded  all  ranks, 
and  the  scene  was  afiectingly  awful.     I  was  so  near 
during  the  solemn  march  to  the  fatal  spot,  as  to  ob 
serve   every   movement,    and    participate    in    every 
emotion  which   the  melancholy  scene  was   calculated 
to  produce.     Major  Andre  walked  from  the  stone 
house,  in  which  he  had  been  confined,  between  two 
of  our  subaltern  officers,  arm  in  arm  ;  the  eyes  of  the 
immense  multitude  were  fixed  on  him,  who,  rising 
superior  to  the  fears  of  death,   appeared  as  if  con 
scious  of  the  dignified  deportment  which  he  displayed. 
He  betrayed  no  want  of  fortitude,  but  retained  a  com 
placent  smile  on  his  countenance,  and  politely  bowed 
to  several  gentlemen  whom  he  knew,  which  was  res 
pectfully  returned.     It  was  his  earnest  desire  to  be 
shot,  as  being  the  mode  of  death  most  conformable  to 
the  feelings  of  a  military  man,  and  he  had  indulged 
the  hope  that  his  request  would  be  granted.     At  the 
moment,  therefore,  when  suddenly  he  came   in  view 
of  the  gallows,  he  involuntarily  started  backward,  and 
made  a  pause.      "  Why  this  emotion,   Sh^"  said  an 
officer  by  his  side?     Instantly  recovering  iris  compo 
sure,  he  said,   "  I  am  reconciled  to  my  death,  but  I 
detest  the  mode."     While  waiting  and  standing  near 
the  gallows,  I  observed  some  degree  of  trepidation  ; 
placing  his  foot  on  a  stone,  and  rolling  it  over  and 
choking  in  his  throat,  as  if  attempting  to  swallow. 
So  soon,  however,  as  he  perceived  that  things  were 
in  readiness,  he  stepped  quickly  into  the  wagon,  and 
at  this  moment  he  appeared  to  shrink,  but  instantly 
elevating  his  head  with  firmness,  he  said,  "  It  will  be 
but  a  momentary  pang,"  and  taking  from  his  pocket 
two  white  handkerchiefs,  the  provost  marshal  with 
one,  loosely  pinioned  his  arms,  and  with  the  other,  the 
35 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

victim,  after  taking  off  his  hat  and  stock,  bandaged 
his  own  eyes  with  perfect  firmness,  which  melted 
the  hearts,  and  moistened  the  cheeks,  not  only  of 
his  servant,  but  of  the  throng  of  spectators.  The 
rope  being  appended  to  the  gallows,  he  slipped  the 
noose  over  his  head  and  adjusted  it  to  his  neck,  with 
out  the  assistance  of  the  awkward  executioner.  Col 
onel  Scammel  now  informed  him  that  he  had  an  op 
portunity  to  speak,  if  he  desired  it ;  he  raised  the 
handkerchief  from  his  eyes  and  said,  "  I  pray  you  to 
bear  me  witness  that  I  meet  my  fate  like  a  brave 
man."  The  wagon  being  now  removed  from  under 
him,  he  wTas  suspended  and  instantly  expired ;  it 
proved  indeed  "  but  a  momentary  pang."  He  was 
dressed  in  his  royal  regimentals  and  boots,  and  his 
remains,  in  the  same  dress,  were  placed  in  an  ordi 
nary  coffin,  and  interred  at  the  foot  of  the  gallows  ; 
and  the  spot  was  consecrated  by  the  tears  of  thou 
sands.  Thus  died  in  the  bloom  of  life,  the  accom 
plished  Major  Andre,  the  pride  of  the  royal  army, 
and  the  valued  friend  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  He 
was  about  twenty  nine  years  of  age,  in  his  person  well 
proportioned,  tall,  genteel  and  graceful.  His  mien 
respectable  and  dignified.  His  countenance  mild, 
expressive  and  prepossessing,  indicative  of  an  intelli 
gent  and  aurriable  mind.  His  talents  are  said  to  have 
been  of  a  superior  cast,  and  being  cultivated  in  early 
life,  he  had  made  very  considerable  proficiency  in  lite 
rary  attainments.  Colonel  Hamilton,  aid  de  camp  to 
General  Washington,  having  had  an  interview  with 
him,  entertains  an  exalted  opinion  of  his  character. 
In  the  line  of  his  profession,  Major  Andre  was  con 
sidered  as  a  skilful,  brave  and  enterprizing  officer,  and 
he  is  reported  to  have  been  benevolent  and  humane  to 
our  people  who  have  been  prisoners  in  New  York. 
Military  glory  was  the  main  spring  of  his  actions,  and 
the  sole  object  of' his  pursuits,  and  he  was  advancing 
rapidly  in  the  gratification  of  his  ambitious  views,  till 
by  a  misguided  zeal  he  became  a  devoted  victim.  He 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  275 

enjoyed  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  being  consulted  in  his  counsels  and  admitted 
to  the  secrets  of  his  cabinet.  The  heart  of  sensi 
bility  mourns  when  a  life  of  so  much  worth  is  sacri 
ficed  on  a  gibbet.  General  Washington  was  called 
to  discharge  a  duty  from  which  his  soul  revolted : 
and  it  is  asserted  that  his  hand  could  scarcely  com 
mand  his  pen,  when  signing  the  warrant  for  the  exe 
cution  of  Major  Andre.  But,  however  abhorrent  in 
the  view  of  humanity,  the  laws  and  usages  of  war 
must  be  obeyed,  and  in  all  armies  it  is  decreed,  that 
the  gallows  shall  be  the  fate  of  spies  from  the  ener 
my.  It  was  universally  desired  that  Major  Andre 
should  experience  every  possible  favor  and  indul 
gence,  consistent  with  his  peculiar  circumstances,  but 
it  was  well  considered,  that  should  he  be  indulged  in 
his  request  to  be  shot,  it  would  imply  that  his  case 
admitted  of  extenuation,  and  it  might  be  doubted 
whether  in  justice  he  ought  to  be  convicted  as  a  spy. 
The  British  general  himself  has  not  hesitated  to  exe 
cute  several  persons  of  the  same  description  sent  from 
our  army  into  New  York.*  Could  Arnold  have  been 

*  It  is  with  the  highest  decree  of  satisfaction,  that  I  am  enabled  to 
«opj  the  following  interesting  narrative,  vouched  by  Major  General 
Hull,  of  Newton,  from  Hannah  Adams'  History  of  New  England.  Let 
the  reader  draw  the  striking  contrast  between  the  conduct  of  the  royal 
ists  and  the  Americans,  on  an  occasion  where  the  duties  of  humanity 
and  benevolence,  were  equally  and  imperiously  demanded. 

44  The  retreat  of  General  Washington,  left  the  British  in  complete 
possession  of  Long  Island.  What  would  be  their  future  operations,  re 
mained  uncertain.  To  obtain  information  of  their  situation,  their 
strength  and  future  movements,  was  of  high  importance.  For  this  pur 
pose,  General  Washington  applied  to  Colonel  Knowlton,  who  com 
manded  a  regiment  of  light  infantry,  which  formed  the  van  of  the  Amer 
ican  army,  and  desired  him  to  adopt  some  mode  of  gaining  the  neces 
sary  information.  Colonel  Knowlton  communicated  this  request  to  Cap 
tain  Hale,  of  Connecticut,  who  was  then  a  captain  in  his  regiment. 
This  young  officer,  animated  by  a  sense  of  duty,  and  considering  that 
an  opportunity  presented  itself  by  which  he  might  be  useful  to  his 
country,  at  once  offered  himself  a  volunteer  for  this  hazardous  service. 
He  passed  in  disguise  to  Long  Island,  examined  every  part  of  the  Bri 
tish  army,  and  obtained  the  best  possible  information  respecting  their 
situation  and  future  operations. 

41  In  his  attempt  to  return,  he  was  apprehended,  carried  before  Sir 
William  Howe,  and  the  proof  of  his  object  was  so  clear,  that  he  frankly 
acknowledged  who  he  was,  and  what  were  his  views. 


276  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

suspended  on  the  gibbet  erected  for  Andre,  not  a 
tear  or  a  sigh  would  have  been  produced,  but  exulta 
tion  and  joy  would  have  been  visible  on  every  coun 
tenance.  But  General  Clinton  suffers  the  vile  and 


"Sir  William  Howe  at  once  gave  an  order  to  the  provost  marshal  to 
execute  him  the  next  morning. 

"  The  order  was  accordingly  executed  in  a  most  unfeeling  manner, 
and  by  as  great  a  savage  as  ever  disgraced  humanity.  A  clergyman, 
whose  attendance  he  desired,  was  refused  him  ;  a  bible  for  a  moment's 
devotion  was  not  procured,  though  he  requested  it.  Letters,  which  on 
the  morning  of  his  execution,  he  wrote  to  his  mother,  and  other  friends, 
were  destroyed  ;  and  this  very  extraordinary  reason  given  by  the  pro 
vost  marshal,  '  that  the  rebels  should  not  know  that  they  had  a  man  in 
their  army,  who  could  die  with  so  much  firmness.' 

''Unknown  to  all  around  him,  without  a  single  friend  to  offer  him  the 
least  consolation,  thus  fell  as  amiable  and  as  worthy  a  young  man  as  Ame 
rica  could  boast,  with  this  as  his  dying  observation,  '  that  he  only  lament 
ed  he  had  but  one  life  to  lose  for  his  country.'  How  superior  to  the 
dying  words  of  Andre.  Though  the  manner  of  his  execution  will  ever 
be  abhorred  by  every  friend  to  humanity  and  religion,  yet  there  can 
not  be  a  question  but  that  the  sentence  was  conformable  to  the  rules  of 
"war,  and  the  practice  of  nations  in  similar  cases. 

It  is,  however,  a  justice  due  to  the  character  of  Captain  Hale,  to  ob 
serve,  that  his  motives  for  engaging  in  this  service  were  entirely  different 
from  those  which  generally  influence  others  in  similar  circumstances. 
"Neither  expectation  of  promotion  nor  pecuniary  reward,  induced  him 
to  this  attempt.  A  sense  of  duty,  a  hope  that  he  might  in  this  way  be 
useful  to  his  country,  and  an  opinion  which  he  had  adopted,  that  every 
kind  of  service  necessarv  to  the  public  good,  became  honorable  by 
being  necessary,  were  the  great  motives  which  induced  him  to  engage 
in  an  enterprize,  by  which  his  connexions  lost  a  most  amiable  friend, 
and  his  country  one  of  its  most  promising  supporters. 

u  The  fate  of  this  unfortunate  young  man  excites  the  most  interesting 
reflections. 

"To see  such  a  character,  in  the  flower  of  youth,  cheerfully  treading 
in  the  most  hazardous  paths-,  influenced  by  the  purest  intentions,  and 
only  emulous  to  do  good  to  his  country,  without  the  imputation  of  a 
crime,  fall  a  victim  to  policy,  must  have  been  wounding  to  the  feelings 
even  of  his  enemies. 

u  Should  a  comparison  be  drawn  between  Major  Andre  and  Captain 
Hale,  injustice  would  be  done  to  the  latter,  should  he  not  be  placed  on 
an  equal  ground  with  the  former.  Whilst  almost  every  historian  of  the 
American  Revolution,  has  celebrated  the  virtues  and  lamented  the  fate 
of  Andre,  Hale  has  remained  unnoticed,  and  it  is  scarcely  known  that 
such  a  character  ever  existed. 

u  To  the  memory  of  Andre,  his  country  has  erected  the  most  mag 
nificent  monuments,  and  bestowed  on  his  family  the  highest  honors  and 
most  liberal  rewards.  To  the  memory  of  Hale  not  a  stone  has  been 
erected,  nor  an  inscription  to  preserve  his  ashes  from  insult."* 

*In  the  autumn  of  1821,  the  remains  of  Major  Andre  were  disintef- 
fed,  and  transported  to  England. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  277 

infamous  traitor  to  elude  the  hand  of  justice,  and  even 
bestows  on  him  a  reward  for  his  crime.  It  may  per 
haps  be  suggested,  that  in  this  last  act  of  his  life 
Major  Andre  derogated  from  his  character  and 
station.  That  the  laurels  to  adorn  the  brow  of  a  sol 
dier,  can  only  be  acquired  in  the  field  of  battle,  and 
not  by  encouraging  acts  of  treason,  by  bribery  and 
corruption.  Surprize  and  stratagem,  it  is  well  known, 
constitute  a  valuable  part  of  the  art  of  war,  by  which 
many  important  objects  are  effected,  and  by  some  it 
is  said,  that  when  acts  of  treason  are  practised,  the 
infamy  devolves  on  the  head  of  the  traitors  alone. 
In  the  present  instance,  it  is  supposed  that  Arnold 
made  the  first  overture.  It  is  well  understood  that 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  enjoined  it  on  Andre,  to  transact 
the  business  on  board  the  Vulture,  and  it  was  his 
own  determination  not  to  land  on  our  shore  ;  but  such 
was  the  management  of  Arnold,  and  his  confederate 
Smith,  that  he  was  actually  compelled,  contrary  to  his 
own  judgment  and  intention,  to  come  within  our  lines, 
and  this  circumstance  alone  placed  him  in  the  charac 
ter  of  a  common  spy.  The  Commander  in  Chief  was 
generously  disposed  to  compassionate  his  unhappy 
condition,  and  to  soothe  and  mitigate  his  sorrow,  and 
every  officer  in  the  army  was  actuated  by  feelings  of 
sympathy  and  tenderness  towards  him.  The  base 
and  perfidious  Arnold  is  held  in  the  utmost  abhor 
rence  and  detestation  throughout  our  army,  and  his 
person,  with  the  garrison  at  West  Point  into  the  bar 
gain,  would  have  been  a  dear  purchase  to  Sir  Henry 
for  the  life  of  his  valuable  friend  and  adjutant  general. 
West  Point  is  now  become  a  very  celebrated  and 
memorable  spot,  by  the  attempt  of  the  royal  general 
to  obtain  possession  of  it  through  the  defection  and 
treachery  of  one  of  our  officers,  and  the  defeat  of 
the  conspiracy.  Arnold  was  well  apprized  of  its 
importance,  and  it  was  obviously  his  design  to  strike 
a  fatal  blow  to  the  cause  of  his  native  country,  and 
it  was  his  intention  that  it  should  cost  the  British 


278  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780. 

nothing  more  than  the  price  of  his  own  villany  and 
treason.  He  had  actually  removed  a  New  York 
regiment  from  the  point  to  the  plain  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  and  sent  off  a  number  of  soldiers  from 
the  garrison  to  cut  wood  at  a  distance,  and  disposed 
and  arranged  the  remaining  troops  in  such  manner 
that  little  or  no  opposition  could  have  been  made, 
and  an  immediate  surrender  would  have  been  in 
evitable,  or  our  troops  must  have  fallen  a  sacrifice. 
Deplorable  indeed  would  have  been  the  event,  the 
loss  of  this  highly  important  garrison  with  some  of 
our  best  officers  and  men,  the  immense  quantity  of 
ordnance  and  military  stores,  together  with  the  pro 
digious  panic  and  gloom  which  at  this  critical  period 
must  have  pervaded' the  whole  people,  could  scarcely 
have  failed  of  being  productive  of  consequences 
overwhelming  the  physical  powers  and  energies  of 
our  country.  But  we  are  saved  by  a  miracle,  and 
we  are  confounded  in  awful  astonishment.  In  a 
private  letter,  General  Washington  thus  expresses 
himself,  respecting  this  transaction.  "  In  no  instance 
since  the  commencement  of  the  war  has  the  inter 
position  of  Providence  appeared  more  remarkably 
conspicuous  than  in  the  rescue  of  the  post  and  garri 
son  at  West  Point.  How  far  Arnold  meant  to  in 
volve  me  in  the  catastrophe  of  this  place,  does  not 
appear  by  any  indubitable  evidence,  and  I  am  rather 
inclined  to  think  he  did  not  wish  to  hazard  the  more 
important  object,  by  attempting  to  combine  two  events, 
the  lesser  of  which  might  have  marred  the  greater. 
A  combination  of  extraordinary  circumstances,  and 
unaccountable  deprivation  of  presence  of  mind  in  a 
man  of  the  first  abilities,  and  the  virtue  of  three 
militia  men,  threw  the  adjutant  general  of  the  British 
forces,  with  full  proof  of  Arnold's  intention,  into  our 
hands,  and  but  for  the  egregious  folly  or  the  be 
wildered  conception  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Jameson, 
who  seemed  lost  in  astonishment,  and  not  to  have 
known  what  he  was  doing,  I  should  undoubtedly 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  279 

have  gotten  Arnold.  Andre  has  met  his  fate,  and 
with  that  fortitude  which  was  to  be  expected  from 
an  accomplished  man  and  a  gallant  officer ;  but  I 
mistake  if  Arnold  is  suffering  at  this  time  the  tor 
ments  of  a  mental  hell.  He  wants  feeling.  From 
some  traits  of  his  character  which  have  lately  come 
to  my  knowledge,  he  seems  to  have  been  so  hacknied 
in  crime,  so  lost  to  all  sense  of  honor  and  shame,  that 
while  his  faculties  still  enable  him  to  continue  his 
sordid  pursuits,  there  will  be  no  time  for  remorse." 

For  the  sake  of  human  nature,  it  were  to  be  wish 
ed  that  a  veil  could  be  forever  thrown  over  so  vile  an 
example  of  depravity  and  wickedness.  Traitor!  you 
never  can  know  the  precious  enjoyment  of  a  quiet 
conscience !  While  you  sleep,  your  heart  must  be 
awake,  and  the  voice  of  Andre  must  thrill  through 
your  very  soul.  Though  you  may  console  yourself 
that  you  have  escaped  the  gallows,  a  consciousness  of 
your  crimes  and  the  infamy  and  contempt  which  will 
forever  await  you,  must  incessantly  harrow  and  tor 
ment  your  spirit,  rendering  you  of  all  villains,  the 
most  wretched  and  miserable.  The  only  atonement  in 
your  power  to  alleviate  your  poignant  mental  misery, 
is  a  humble  and  hearty  confession,  and  to  implore  in 
sincerity  the  forgiveness  of  Heaven  !* 

Our  brigade,  and  three  others,  decamped  from 
Orangetown  on  the  7th  instant.  Our  tents  and 
baggage  were  sent  up  the  Hudson  in  boats,  and  we 
took  our  route  through  the  highlands.  The  road  was 
almost  impassable  through  a  thick  wood  and  over  high 
mountains,  constantly  intersected  by  prodigious  rocks, 
running  brooks  and  deep  vallies.  We  arrived  at 
West  Point  on  the  evening  of  the  8th,  distance  thirty 
two  miles;  the  troops  much  fatigued  and  our  tents  not 
arrived,  took  our  sleep  for  the  night  on  the  ground 
in  the  woods,  and  on  the  9th,  encamped  on  the  plain, 
near  the  banks  of  the  river.  General  Greene  is  now 
the  commander  of  this  garrison,  and  good  order  takes 

*  Ste  the  character  of  Arnold,  in  the  Appendix. 


280  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

place  of  the  confusion  occasioned  by  Arnold's  elope 
ment. 

Joshua  Smith,  Esquire,,  the  confederate  of  Arnold, 
has  been  tried  by  a  court  martial,  of  which  Colonel 
Henry  Jackson  was  president ;  the  evidence  against 
him  and  his  own  confession,  go  to  prove  that  he  went 
on  board  the  Vulture,  in  the  night,  and  brought  on 
shore  a  gentleman  who  was  called  John   Anderson, 
to  have  an  interview  with  General  Arnold,  that  he 
secreted  him  in  his  house,  furnished  him  with  a  horse 
and  change    of  clothes,    and    that   he   accompanied 
him  through  our  out  posts,  and  directed  him  into  the 
proper  road  to  New  York.     All  this,  he  pleads  in 
his  defence,  was   by  the   express  desire  of  General 
Arnold,  who  assured  him  that  his  object  was  to  obtain 
some  important  intelligence  from  New  York,  which 
would  be  highly  advantageous  to  the  public  interest. 
He  considered  himself  therefore,  in  the  character  of 
a  confidential  agent  in  the  employment  of  Arnold, 
without  suspicion  of  treasonable  conduct  in  this  officer. 
This  pretence  is  plausible,  and  it  is  his  good  fortune 
that  no  positive  evidence  could  be  produced  to  coun 
tervail  his  assertions.      Though   his  actions  appear 
criminal,  yet  it  is  possible  his  motives  and  views  may 
have  been  laudable.     The  want  of  positive  evidence 
therefore,  of  his  criminality,  prevented  his  conviction; 
but  so  strong  was  the  circumstantial  proof  of  his  guilt, 
that  it  was  deemed  proper  that  he  should  be  kept 
in    confinement.       Being   seized    with  indisposition, 
from  apprehension   and  anxiety  of  mind,  I   was   re 
quested  to  visit  him  in  his  prison.     I  found  him  very 
conversable,  and  he  immediately  entertained  me  with 
a  relation  of  the  particular  circumstances  of  his  case, 
which  agreed  substantially  with  the  above  statement. 
He  promised  to  show  me  his  written  defence,  produc 
ed  at  his  trial,  but  no  future  opportunity  occurred. 
He  pretended  that  it  was  unjust  and  cruel  that  he 
should  be  deprived  of  his  liberty,  when  no  evidence 
of  guilt  could  be  produced  against  him.     He  was 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  281 

soon  removed  to  some  prison  in  the  country,*  after 
which  his  lady  arrived,  expecting  to  find  him  here. 
I  received  a  polite  billet,  requesting  I  would  wait 
on  her  at  the  house  of  my  friend  Major  Bowman, 
where  I  was  introduced  to  her  and  to  Mrs.  B.  and 
her  daughter,  with  whom  I  took  tea  and  spent  the 
evening.  Mrs.  Smith  was  grievously  disappointed 
that  her  husband  was  removed  ;  she  was  very  solicit 
ous  to  be  informed  of  the  particular  circumstances 
which  attend  him  in  his  illness,  and  whether  he  was 
dejected  in  spirits,  and  politely  thanked  me  for  my 
attention  to  him.  She  appears  to  be  an  accomplished 
and  interesting  woman,  but  is  in  much  distress  for 
the  fate  of  her  husband.  She  could  not  conceal  her 
natural  partiality  and  bias  in  his  favor,  and  would 
willingly  have  left  the  impression  which  Arnold 
wished  to  make,  when  in  his  letter  to  General  Wash 
ington,  he  says  of  his  wife,  "  she  is  as  good,  and  as 
innocent  as  an  angel,  and  is  incapable  of  doing 
wrong." 

15th. — I  have  just  returned  from  Orangetown,  in 
company  with  Captain  Hunt,  of  our  regiment,  where 
I  was  called  to  visit  his  brother,  who  was  left  sick 
when  we  marched  from  that  place.  We  dined  with 
doctors  Eustis  and  Towusend,  at  the  hospital  on  our 
way,  and  with  Captain  Livingston,  a  respectable  offi 
cer,  commanding  at  Stony  point,  on  our  return. 

20th. — Major  General  Greene  has  been  ordered  to 
the  southward,  to  take  command  of  the  American 
army  in  the  Carolinas,  and  Major  General  Heath  suc 
ceeds  to  the  command  of  this  post. 

We  have  the  mortifying  intelligence,  that  the 
enemy  has  laid  waste  a  great  part  of  the  fertile  coun 
try  above  Saratoga,  and  likewise  the  vicinity  of 
Schenectady.  The  party  consisted  of  Indians,  tories, 
and  Canadians,  commanded  by  Sir  John  Johnston. 

*  Smith  was  for  several  months  in  confinement ;  but  either  from  a  want 
of  vigilance  in  his  keeper,  or  the  indifference  of  the  proper  authority, 
he  was  at  length  allowed  to  escape  to  New  York, 

36 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

General  Van  Rensselaer,  with  the  militia  and  some 
new  levies,  engaged  the  enemy  at  Fox's  mills,  Tryon 
county,  and  after  a  very  severe  action  of  three  quar 
ters  of  an  hour,  forced  them  to  give  way  and  cross 
the  river,  leaving  their  plunder,  baggage  and  prison 
ers,  which  they  had  taken,  behind  them.  One  hour 
of  day  light  would  have  given  us  the  whole  party. 
The  action  was  general  and  vigorous ;  wTe  have  to 
lament  the  loss  of  Colonel  Brown,  who  was  killed  in 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  The  devastation  com 
mitted  by  this  savage  party,  is  found  to  be  very  im 
portant,  as  it  respects  the  inhabitants  of  the  north 
It  is  estimated  at  two  hundred  dwellings,  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  thousand  bushels  of  wheat,  with  a  pro 
portion  of  other  grain  and  forage.  The  same  party 
destroyed  also  the  town  of  Schoharie,  but  the  inhabi 
tants  fortunately  secured  themselves  in  the  fort. 

Official  intelligence  is  received  of  a  very  brilliant 
exploit  of  our  militia,  in  North  Carolina.  The  famous 
royal  partizan,  Major  Ferguson,  was  at  the  head  of 
about  one  thousand  four  hundred  British  troops 
and  tories.  Colonels  Campbell,  Cleveland,  Williams, 
Shelby  and  Sevier,  brave  and  enterprizing  officers, 
had  collected  detached  parties  of  militia,  and  by  agree 
ment,  the  whole  were  united,  and  formed  a  body 
amounting  to  near  three  thousand.  Colonel  Camp 
bell  was  appointed  their  commander.  They  imme 
diately  marched  in  pursuit  of  Major  Ferguson,  and 
came  up  with  him  advantageously  posted,  at  a  place 
called  King's  mountains.  No  time  was  lost  in  making 
a  vigorous  attack,  and  giving  the  enemy  a  total  de 
feat,  in  which  Major  Ferguson,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  of  his  men  were  killed,  eight  hundred  made 
prisoners,  and  fifteen  hundred  stand  of  arms  taken, 
with  a  trilling  loss  on  our  side,  excepting  the  brave 
Colonel  Williams,  who  received  a  mortal  wound,  after 
being  crowned  with  honor. 

Congress  have  resolved,  that  the  regular  army  of 
the  United  States,  from  and  after  the  first  day  of 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1780.  283 

January,  1781,  shall  consist  of  four  regiments  of 
artillery,  forty  nine  regiments  of  infantry,  exclusive 
of  Colonel  Hazen's,  called  "  the  Congress'  own  regi 
ment,"  and  one  regiment  of  artificers.  The  respec 
tive  states  are  to  furnish  their  quotas  as  proportioned 
by  Congress.  And  as  by  the  foregoing  arrange 
ment,  many  deserving  officers  may  become  super 
numerary,  Congress  resolved,  that  after  the  reform 
of  the  army  takes  place,  the  officers  shall  be  entitled 
to  half  pay  for  seven  years,  in  specie  or  other  current 
money,  equivalent ;  and  to  have  grants  of  land  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  agreeably  to  the  resolution  of  the 
16th  September,  1776. 

A  scarcity  of  provisions  is  again  complained  of  in 
camp. 

It  has  long  been  the  desire  of  General  Washing 
ton,  to  make  some  arrangement  with  General  Clinton, 
for  an  exchange  of  prisoners  :  but  many  difficulties 
have  attended  to  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  the 
object.  A  partial  exchange  has  now  been  effected  ; 
Major  General  Lincoln,  who  was  taken  at  Charleston, 
has  been  exchanged  for  Major  General  Phillips, 
captured  at  Saratoga.  General  Thompson,  and  a 
number  of  other  American  officers,  who  have  long 
been  prisoners,  are  also  liberated  by  exchange. 

November  \st. — A  most  tremendous  storm  of  wind, 
snow  and  hail  has  continued  almost  incessantly  for 
two  days.  Many  of  our  tents  were  levelled  with 
the  ground,  and  officers  and  men  exposed  without  a 
shelter. 

2d. — This  is  a  day  of  public  Thanksgiving  through 
out  the  state  of  New  York,  on  occasion  of  the  dis 
covery  of  Arnold's  conspiracy. 

3c?. — A  soldier  has  been  executed  to  day  for  deser 
tion,  and  persuading  others  to  follow  his  example. 

A  large  detachment  of  troops  has  been  ordered  by 
General  Heath,  to  be  in  readiness  with  two  days  provi 
sions  cooked,  to  march  on  a  foraging  expedition,  under 
command  of  Brigadier  General  Stark.  The  detach- 


284  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780. 

ment  crossed  the  Hudson  on  the  21st  instant,  and 
paraded  on  Nelson's  point,  where  they  were  review 
ed  by  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux,  one  of  the  generals 
of  the  French  army,  at  Newport.     It  is  understood 
that  the  object  of  the  expedition  is  to  procure  a  quan 
tity  of  forage  from  the  farms  on  the  neutral  ground, 
between    the  two   armies,    towards    King's    bridge. 
After  the  review,  the  Marquis  crossed  over  to  West 
Point,  where  his  arrival  was  announced  by  the  dis 
charge  of  thirteen  cannon.     The  detachment  march 
ed  about  ten  miles,  and  took  lodgings  on  the  ground 
in  the  woods,  beside  large  fires.    In  the  night  a  severe 
storm  of  rain  came  on,  that  drenched  our  troops,  and 
becoming  more  violent  the  next  day,  rendered  the 
roads   extremely  bad,  and   our  march  very  uncom 
fortable  ;  we  reached  North  Castle,  seventeen  miles, 
and  lodged  in  the  woods,  where  our  fires  did  not 
secure  us  from  suffering  much  by  wet  and  cold. 

23d. — Marched  to  West  Farms,  near  West  Chester, 
within  eight  miles  of  the  enemy's  works  at  King's 
bridge.  Here  we  kindled  numerous  fires  in  open 
view  of  the  enemy,  and  in  the  evening  the  troops 
were  ordered  to  leave  the  fires  and  retire  back  about 
two  miles,  and  remain  under  arms  prepared  for 
battle ;  but  the  enemy  made  no  advances. 

24th. — Another  severe  storm  of  rain,  which  con 
tinued  through  the  day  ;  we  however,  began  to  march 
at  sun  rise,  on  our  return,  but  soon  halted  and  took 
shelter  under  the  bushes  near  White  plains.  In  this 
comfortless  situation,  we  continued  through  the  day 
and  night.  The  next  day,  the  storm  continuing,  I 
was  so  fortunate  as  to  crowd  into  a  house  with  some 
officers  for  shelter.  26th  and  27th,  marched  twenty 
miles  each  day,  and  reached  our  former  station  at 
this  place  before  night. 

The  country  which  we  lately  traversed,  about  fifty 
miles  in  extent,  is  called  neutral  ground,  but  the  mis 
erable  inhabitants  who  remain,  are  not  much  favored 
with  the  privileges  which  their  neutrality  ought  to 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  285 

secure  to  them.    They  are  continually  exposed  to  the 
ravages  and  insults  of  infamous  banditti,  composed  of 
royal  refugees  and  tories.    The  country  is  rich  and  fer 
tile,  and  the  farms  appear  to  have  been  advantageously 
cultivated,  but  it  now  has  the  marks  of  a  country  in 
ruins.     A  large  proportion  of  the  proprietors  having 
abandoned  their  farms,  the  few  that  remain,  find  it 
impossible   to  harvest  the   produce.     The  meadows 
and   pastures  are  covered  with  grass  of  a  summer's 
growth,  and  thousands  of  bushels  of  apples  and  other 
fruit,  are  rotting  in  the  orchards.     We  brought  off 
about  two  hundred  loads  of  hay  and  grain,  and  ten 
times  the  amount  might  have  been  procured,  had 
teams  enough  been  provided.     Those  of  the  inhabi 
tants  of  the  neutral  ground  who  were  tories,  have 
joined  their  friends  in  New  York,  and  the  whigs 
have  retired  into  the  interior  of  our  country.     Some 
of  each  side  have  taken  up  arms,  and  become  the 
most  cruel  and  deadly  foes.     There  are  within  the 
British  lines,   banditti  consisting  of  lawless  villains, 
who  devote  themselves  to  the  most  cruel  pillage  and 
robbery  among  the  defenceless  inhabitants  between 
the  lines,  many  of  whom  they  carry  off  to  New  York, 
after  plundering   their   houses   and   farms.     These 
shameless  marauders  have    received  the  names    of 
cow-boys  and  skinners.     By  their  atrocious  deeds, 
they  have  become  a  scourge  and  terror  to  the  people. 
Numerous  instances  have  been  related  of  these  mis 
creants  subjecting  defenceless  persons  to  cruel  tor 
tures,  to  compel  them  to  deliver  up  their  money,  or 
to  disclose  the  places  where  it  has  been  secreted.     It 
is  not  uncommon  for  them  to  hang  a  man  by  his  neck 
till  apparently  dead,  then  restore  him,  and  repeat  the 
experiment,  and  leave  him  for  dead.     One  of  these 
unhappy  persons  informed  me,  that  when  suffering 
this  cruel  treatment,  the  last  sensation  which  he  re 
collects,  when  suspended  by  his  neck,  was  a  flashing 
heat  over  him,  like  that  which  would  be  occasioned  by 
boiling  water  poured  over  his  body  5  he  was  however, 


286  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

cut  down,  and  how  long  he  remained  on  the  ground 
insensible,  he  knows  not.  A  peaceable,  unresisting 
Quaker,  of  considerable  respectability,  by  the  name 
of  Quimby,  was  visited  by  several  of  these  vile  ruf 
fians  ;  they  first  demanded  his  money,  and  after  it 
was  delivered,  they  suspected  he  had  more  concealed, 
and  inflicted  on  him  the  most  savage  cruelties,  in 
order  to  extort  it  from  him.  They  began  with  what 
they  call  scorching,  covering  his  naked  body  with 
hot  ashes,  and  repeating  the  application,  till  the  skin 
was  covered  with  blisters  ;  after  this  they  resorted 
to  the  halter,  and  hung  the  poor  man  on  a  tree  by 
his  neck,  then  took  him  down,  and  repeated  it  a 
second,  and  even  a  third  time,  and  finally  left  him 
almost  lifeless. 

30th. — It  is  now  well  understood  that  our  detach 
ment,  under  the  pretext  of  a  foraging  expedition, 
was  intended  by  the  Commander  in  Chief  to  co-ope 
rate  with  the  main  army,  in  an  attempt  against  the 
enemy's  post  on  York  Island.  Boats,  mounted  on 
travelling  carriages,  have  been  kept  with  the  army 
all  the  campaign.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  at 
the  head  of  his  beautiful  corps  of  light  infantry,  con 
stantly  advancing  in  front,  was  to  have  commenced 
the  attack  in  the  night,  and  the  whole  army  was  pre 
pared  to  make  a  general  attack  on  the  enemy's  works. 
By  some  movement  of  the  British  vessels,  or  other 
cause,  known  only  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  and 
his  confidential  officers,  this  noble  enterprize  was  un 
fortunately  defeated.  The  campaign  is  now  brought 
to  a  close,  without  effecting  any  very  important  ob 
ject.  We  have  several  times  offered  the  enemy 
battle,  but  they  refuse  to  accept  the  challenge.  The 
Marquis  suffers  on  this  occasion  the  most  painful  dis 
appointment.  He  had  spared  no  pains  or  expense 
to  render  his  corps  of  infantry,  as  fine  a  body  of 
troops,  as  can  be  produced  in  any  country ;  every 
officer,  under  his  command,  received  from  him  a  pre 
sent  of  an  elegant  sword,  and  the  soldiers  were  put 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1780.  287 

in  uniform  mostly  at  his  expense.  The  officers  cheer 
fully  seconded  his  endeavors  to  perfect  the  men  in 
discipline,  and  a  noble  spirit  of  emulation  universally 
prevailed  among  them.  The  Marquis  viewed  this 
corps  as  one  formed  and  modeled  according  to  his 
own  wishes,  and  as  meriting  his  highest  confidence. 
They  were  the  pride  of  his  heart,  and  he  was  the 
idol  of  their  regard,  who  were  constantly  panting  for 
an  opportunity  of  accomplishing  some  signal  achieve 
ment,  worthy  of  his  and  their  character.  This  brilliant 
corps  is  now  dissolved,  and  the  men  have  rejoined 
their  respective  regiments,  and  we  are  soon  to  retire 
into  the  wilderness,  to  prepare  for  winter  quarters. 

Intelligence  is  received  from  Boston,  that  his  Ex 
cellency  John  Hancock,  has  been  elected  by  the  peo 
ple  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  the  first  Governor 
under  their  new  constitution.  This  event  affords 
universal  satisfaction,  and  has  been  announced  in 
Boston,  by  public  rejoicing,  firing  of  thirteen  cannon, 
military  parade,  feu  de  joie,  and  elegant  entertain 
ments. 

It  is  with  inexpressible  satisfaction  that  we  learn, 
the  patriotic  ladies  of  Philadelphia  and  its  vicinity, 
have  distinguished  themselves  by  a  generous  and 
liberal  regard  to  the  sufferings  of  our  soldiery,  and 
have  engaged  in  the  benevolent  work  of  raising  con 
tributions  among  themselves,  and  stimulating  others, 
for  the  purpose  of  affording  a  temporary  relief  for 
the  soldiers  on  service  in  that  vicinity.  I  extract 
from  the  newspapers,  the  sentiments  of  an  "  American 
Woman,"  addressed  to  American  ladies  relative  to 
the  subject,  which  should  be  recorded  for  the  honor 
of  the  sex. 

"  On  the  commencement  of  actual  war,  the  women 
of  America  manifested  a  firm  resolution,  to  contribute 
as  much  as  could  depend  on  them,  to  the  deliver 
ance  of  their  country.  Animated  by  the  purest 
patriotism,  they  are  full  of  sorrow  at  this  day,  in  not 
offering  more  than  barren  wishes  for  the  success  of 


288  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780. 

so  glorious  a  revolution.  They  aspire  to  render 
themselves  more  really  useful ;  and  this  sentiment  is 
universal,  from  the  north  to  the  south  of  the  Thirteen 
United  States.  Our  ambition  is  kindled  by  the  fame 
of  those  heroines  of  antiquity,  who  have  rendered 
their  sex  illustrious,  and  have  proved  to  the  world, 
that,  if  the  weakness  of  our  constitution,  if  opinion 
and  manners  did  not  forbid  us  to  march  to  glory  by 
the  same  path  as  the  men,  we  should  at  least  equal, 
and  sometimes  surpass  them  in  our  love  for  the  pub 
lic  good.  I  glory  in  all  that  my  sex  have  done  that 
is  great  and  commendable.  I  call  to  mind  with  en 
thusiasm  and  with  admiration,  all  those  acts  of  cou 
rage,  of  constancy  and  patriotism,  which  history  has 
transmitted  to  us :  the  people  favored  by  Heaven,  pre 
served  from  destruction  by  the  virtues,  the  zeal  and 
the  resolution  of  Deborah,  of  Judith,  of  Esther,  the 
fortitude  of  the  mother  of  the  Maccabees,  in  giving 
up  her  sons  to  die  before  her  eyes :  Rome  saved 
from  the  fury  of  a  victorious  enemy  by  the  efforts  of 
Volumnia,  and  other  Roman  ladies :  so  many  famous 
sieges  where  the  women  have  been  seen  forgetting 
the  weakness  of  their  sex,  building  new  walls,  digging 
trenches  with  their  feeble  hands,  furnishing  arms  to 
their  defenders,  they  themselves  darting  the  missile 
weapons  on  the  enemy,  resigning  the  ornaments  of 
their  apparel,  and  their  fortune,  to  fill  the  public 
treasury,  and  to  hasten  the  deliverance  of  their  coun 
try  ;  burying  themselves  under  its  ruins ;  throwing 
themselves  into  the  flames,  rather  than  submit  to  the 
disgrace  of  humiliation  before  a  proud  enemy. 

66  We  are  certain  that  he  cannot  be  a  good  citizen, 
who  will  not  applaud  our  efforts  for  the  relief  of  the 
armies,  which  defend  our  lives,  our  possessions,  our 
liberty.  The  situation  of  our  soldiery  has  been  re 
presented  to  me ;  the  evils  inseparable  from  war,  and 
the  firm  and  generous  spirit  which  has  enabled  them 
to  support  these.  But  it  has  been  said,  that  they 
may  apprehend,  that,  in  the  course  of  a  long  war, 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  289 

the  view  of  their  distresses  may  be  lost,  and  their 
services  be  forgotten.  Forgotten !  never  ;  I  can 
answer  in  the  name  of  all  my  sex.  Brave  Americans, 
your  disinterestedness,  your  courage,  and  your  con 
stancy,  will  always  be  dear  to  America,  so  long  as  she 
shall  preserve  her  virtue. 

"  We  know  that  at  a  distance  from  the  theatre  of 
war,  if  we  enjoy  any  tranquillity,  it  is  the  fruit  of 
your  watchings,  your  labors,  your  dangers.  If  I  live 
happy  in  the  midst  of  my  family  ;  if  my  husband 
cultivates  his  field,  and  reaps  his  harvest  in  peace  ; 
if,  surrounded  with  my  children,  I  myself  nourish 
the  youngest,  and  press  it  to  my  bosom,  without  be 
ing  afraid  of  seeing  myself  separated  from  it  by  a 
ferocious  enemy  ;  if  the  house  in  which  we  dwell,  if 
our  barns,  our  orchards  are  safe  at  the  present  time 
from  the  hands  of  the  incendiary ;  it  is  to  you 
that  we  owe  it.  And  biiall  we  hesitate  to  evidence 
to  you  our  gratitude  ?  shall  we  hesitate  to  wear  a 
clothing  more  simple  ;  hair  dressed  less  elegantly, 
while  at  the  price  of  this  small  privation,  we  shall 
deserve  your  benedictions.  Who  amongst  us  will 
not  renounce  with  the  highest  pleasure,  those  vain 
ornaments,  when  she  shall  consider  that  the  valiant 
defenders  of  America  will  be  able  to  draw  some  ad 
vantage  from  the  money  which  she  may  have  laid 
out  in  these, — that  they  will  be  better  defended  from 
the  rigors  of  the  seasons,  that  after  their  painful  toils 
they  will  receive  some  extraordinary  and  unexpected 
relief;  that  these  presents  will  perhaps  be  valued  by 
them  at  a  greater  price,  when  they  will  have  it  in 
their  power  to  say ;  this  is  the  offering  of  the  ladies. 
The  time  is  arrived  to  display  the  same  sentiments 
which  animated  us  at  the  beginning  of  the  revolution, 
when  we  renounced  the  use  of  teas,  however  agree 
able  to  our  taste,  rather  than  receive  them  from  our 
persecutors ;  when  we  made  it  appear  to  them  that 
we  placed  former  necessaries  in  the  rank  of  super 
fluities,  when  our  liberty  was  interested :  when  our 
37 


290  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780. 

republican  and  laborious  hands  spun  the  flax,  and  pre 
pared  the  linen  intended  for  the  use  of  our  soldiers ; 
when  exiles  and  fugitives,  we  supported  with  cour 
age  all  the  evils  which  are  the  concomitants  of  war. 
Let  us  not  lose  a  moment,  let  us  be  engaged  to  offer 
the  homage  of  our  gratitude  at  the  altar  of  mili 
tary  valor,  and  you,  our  brave  deliverers,  while  mer 
cenary  slaves  combat  to  cause  you  to  share  with  them 
the  irons  with  which  they  are  loaded,  receive  with  a 
free  hand  our  offering,  the  purest  which  can  be  pre 
sented  to  your  virtue. " 

After  this  publication,  the  ladies  divided  the  city 
of  Philadelphia  into  districts,  and  a  select  number 
visited  every  house,  and  received  the  contribution. 
The  method  proposed,  of  distributing  their  bounty  to 
the  troops,  was  through  the  medium  of  Mrs.  Wash 
ington,  but  in  her  absence,  through  that  of  her  hus 
band,  the  father  and  friend'of  the  soldiery.  From 
the  kind  and  generous  exertions  of  these  ladies,  the 
soldiers  received  at  one  time,  two  thousand  one  hun 
dred  and  seven  shirts,  made  by  their  own  hands,  and 
in  another  paper  it  is  mentioned,  that  the  sum  total 
of  the  donations  received  by  the  ladies  of  Philadel 
phia,  in  their  several  districts,  for  the  American  army, 
amounts  to  three  hundred  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  sixty  six  dollars  in  paper  currency.  Such  free 
will  offerings  are  examples  truly  worthy  of  imita 
tion,  and  are  to  be  considered  as  expressions  of  kind 
ness  and  benevolence,  which  ought  to  be  recorded 
to  the  honor  of  American  ladies. 

December  1st. — Our  brigade  is  now  ordered  into 
the  woods,  in  the  highlands,  in  the  rear  of  West 
Point,  where  we  are  to  build  log  huts,  for  winter  can 
tonments.  We  are  again  subjected  to  numerous  pri 
vations  and  difficulties,  to  support  which  requires  all 
our  patience  and  fortitude.  The  soldiers,  though 
very  miserably  clad,  have  been  for  some  time  obliged 
to  bring  all  the  wood  for  themselves  and  officers,  on 
their  backs,  from  a  place  a  mile  distant,  and  almost 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1780.  291 

half  the  time  are  kept  on  half  allowance  of  bread, 
and  entirely  without  rum.  Twelve  or  fourteen  months 
pay  are  now  due  to  us,  and  we  are  destitute  of  cloth 
ing,  and  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  weather  is  re 
markably  cold,  and  our  tents  are  comfortless. 

10th. — For  three  days  past  I  have  not  been  able  to 
procure  food  enough  to  appease  my  appetite ;  we  are 
threatened  with  starvation.  That  a  part  of  our  army 
charged  with  the  defence  of  a  post  so  highly  impor 
tant  to  America,  should  be  left  in  such  an  unprovided 
and  destitute  condition,  is  truly  a  matter  of  astonish 
ment,  and  unless  a  remedy  can  be  found,  our  soldiers 
will  abandon  the  cause  of  their  country,  and  we  must 
submit  to  the  yoke  of  Great  Britain,  which  we  so 
much  abhor. 

20th. — During  the  last  ten  days  we  have  experi 
enced  almost  continued  storms  of  rain,  high  winds, 
and  disagreeable  fogs.  Our  canvass  dwellings  afford 
us  but  little  protection  against  such  powerful  assail 
ants  ;  they  are  frequently  rent  asunder,  and  we  are 
almost  overwhelmed  with  inundation. 

A  very  spirited  and  honorable  enterprize  has  lately 
been  planned  and  executed  by  Major  Talmadge,  of 
Colonel  Sheldon's  regiment  of  dragoons.  The  enemy 
having  large  magazines  of  forage  and  stores  in  the 
vicinity  of  fort  St.  George,  on  Long  Island,  he  resolv 
ed  to  hazard  the  attempt  to  seize  them  by  surprize. 
Fort  St.  George  was  stockaded,  and  covered  a  large 
spot  of  ground,  having  a  square  redoubt,  writh  a  ditch 
and  abbatis.  With  about  eighty  dismounted  dragoons, 
under  Captain  Edgar,  and  eight  or  ten  on  horseback, 
Major  Talmadge  passed  the  Sound,  where  it  was 
about  twenty  miles  from  shore  to  shore,  marched 
across  the  island  in  the  night  with  such  facility  and 
address,  that  his  enterprize  was  crowned  with  com 
plete  success.  The  enemy  were  not  alarmed  till  too 
late  to  make  much  resistance ;  seven  however  were 
killed  and  wounded,  and  the  remainder,  amounting 
to  fifty  four,  among  whom  were  one  lieutenant  colo- 


292  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780. 

nel,  one  captain  and  a  subaltern,  were  made  prisoners. 
The  fort  was  demolished,  two  armed  vessels  were 
burnt,  and  a  large  magazine  of  hay,  said  to  be  three 
hundred  tons,  with  stores  to  a  large  amount,  shared 
the  same  fate.  Major  Talmadge  recrossed  the  Sound 
with  his  brave  party  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  The 
Commander  in  Chief  was  so  well  pleased  with  this 
exploit,  that  he  recommended  Major  Talmadge  to 
the  notice  of  Congress,  and  they  voted  him  their 
thanks  for  his  brave  and  spirited  conduct. 

The  extraordinary  patience  and  fortitude,  which 
have  hitherto  been  so  honorably  displayed  by  our  offi 
cers  and  soldiers  under  their  complicated  distresses, 
appear  now  to  be  exhausted.  From  repeated  disap 
pointments  of  our  hopes  and  expectations,  the  con 
fidence  of  the  army  in  public  justice,  and  public 
promises,  is  greatly  diminished,  and  we  are  reduced 
almost  to  despair. 

The  present  crisis  is  alarming.  Regimental  offi 
cers  are  continually  resigning  their  commissions,  and 
a  large  proportion  of  those  who  remain  have  pledg 
ed  themselves  to  follow  their  example,  unless  a  re 
dress  of  grievances  can  soon  be  obtained.  Nothing 
short  of  what  we  conceive  to  be  justly  our  due,  a 
comfortable  and  permanent  support,  will  retain  our 
officers,  however  ardent  their  desire  to  serve  their 
country.  They  exclaim,  let  others  come  and  take 
their  turn,  we  have  served  years  longer  than  we  ex 
pected,  and  have  acquitted  ourselves  of  duty.  All 
the  general  officers  belonging  to  New  England,  have 
united  in  a  memorial  to  their  respective  state  govern 
ments,  complaining  of  our  grievances,  and  requesting 
immediate  relief,  and  security  for  the  future.  This 
memorial,  being  put  into  the  mail,  was  taken  from 
the  Fishkill  post  rider,  by  some  emissary  from  the 
enemy,  and  has  been  published  in  the  New  York 
papers,  by  which  our  forlorn  situation  has  been  ex 
posed,  and  much  exultation  occasioned  among  those, 
who  are  watching  for  our  destruction. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1780.  293 

The  resolution  of  Congress,  for  a  new  arrange 
ment  of  the  army,  was  not  conformable  to  the  expec 
tations  of  the  officers,  and  caused  uneasiness  among 
them.  The  Commander  in  Chief  saw  that  a  storm 
was  gathering,  and  thought  it  prudent,  on  this  occa 
sion,  to  communicate  his  opinion  to  Congress,  on  the 
best  means  to  avert  it.  On  the  1 1  th  of  October,  he 
informed  Congress,  "  that  the  general  topic  of  de 
clamation  in  the  army  is,  that  it  is  as  hard  as  dishon 
orable,  for  men  who  had  made  every  sacrifice  to  the 
service,  to  be  turned  out  of  it,  at  the  pleasure  of 
those  in  power,  without  an  adequate  compensation. 
Too  many  of  the  officers  wish  to  get  rid  of  their  com 
missions,  but  they  are  not  willing  to  be  forced  to  it." 

The  Commander  in  Chief,  in  his  communication 
to  Congress,  suggests  ,the  policy  of  making  ample 
provision,  both  for  the  officers  who  stay,  and  for 
those  who  are  reduced.  He  recommended  what  he 
thought  would  be  the  most  economical,  the  most 
politic,  and  the  most  effectual  provision,  half  pay  for 
life.  "  Supported,"  the  General  says,  "  by  a  pros 
pect  of  a  permanent  dependence,  the  officers  would 
be  tied  to  the  service,  and  would  submit  to  many 
momentary  privations,  and  to  the  inconveniences, 
which  the  situation  of  the  public  service  make  una 
voidable.  If  the  objection  drawn  from  the  principle, 
that  this  measure  is  incompatible  with  the  genius  of 
our  government,  be  thought  insurmountable,  I  would 
propose  a  substitute,  less  eligible  in  my  opinion,  but 
which  may  answer  the  purpose  ;  it  is  to  make  the 
present  half  pay,  for  seven  years,  whole  pay,  for 
the  same  period,  to  be  advanced  at  two  different 
payments,  one  half  in  a  year  after  the  conclusion  of 
peace,  the  other  half  in  two  years  after." 

His  Excellency  also  takes  notice  of  the  injuries 
and  inconveniences,  which  attend  a  continual  change 
of  officers,  and  consequent  promotions  in  the  army. 

Soon  after  Congress  were  possessed  of  the  senti 
ments  of  General  Washington,  they  resolved,  "  that 


294  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

the  commander  in  chief  and  commanding  officer,  in 
the  northern  department,  direct  the  officers  of  each 
state,  to  meet  and  agree  on  the  officers  for  the  regi 
ments  to  be  raised  by  their  respective  states,  from 
those  who  incline  to  continue  in  service,  and  where 
it  cannot  be  done  by  agreement,  to  be  determined 
by  seniority ;  and  make  return  of  those  who  are  to 
remain,  which  is  to  be  transmitted  to  Congress,  to 
gether  with  the  names  of  the  officers  reduced,  who 
are  to  be  allowed  half  pay  for  life.  That  the  offi 
cers,  who  shall  continue  in  service  to  the  end  of  the 
war,  shall  also  be  entitled  to  half  pay  during  life,  to 
commence  from  the  time  of  their  reduction." 

January  1st,  1781. — On  this,  the  first  day  of  the 
new  year,  an  arrangement  of  our  army  takes  place, 
according  to  a  late  resolve  of  Congress.  The  super 
numerary  regiments  are  to  be  incorporated  with 
those  which  continue  on  the  new  establishment,  and 
the  supernumerary  officers  are  to  retire  from  service 
on  the  establishment  fixed  by  Congress,  and  are  to 
be  entitled  to  the  same  privileges  and  emoluments, 
which  are  to  be  allowed  to  those  who  continue  to  the 
end  of  the  war.  It  being  optional  with  me,  either 
to  retire  or  to  continue  in  service,  I  shall  retain  my 
commission  as  surgeon  to  Colonel  H.  Jackson's  regi 
ment.  We  are  encouraged  to  anticipate  more  favor 
able  circumstances,  and  more  liberal  compensation, 
Congress  having  at  length  passed  several  resolves, 
entitling  all  officers  who  shall  continue  in  service 
till  the  end  of  the  war,  or  shall  be  reduced  before 
that  time,  as  supernumeraries,  to  receive  half  pay 
during  life,  and  a  certain  number  of  acres  of  land, 
in  proportion  to  their  rank.  Besides  these  pecu 
niary  considerations,  we  are  actuated  by  the  purest 
principles  of  patriotism  ;  having  engaged  in  the 
mighty  struggle,  we  are  ambitious  to  persevere  to 
the  end.  To  be  instrumental  in  the  achievement 
of  a  glorious  Independence  for  our  country,  and 
posterity,  will  be  a  source  of  infinite  satisfaction,  and 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781.  295 

of  most  grateful  recollection,  duriyg  the  remainder 
of  our  days.  Notwithstanding  the  unparalleled  suf 
ferings  and  hardships,  which  have  hitherto  attended 
our  military  career,  scarcely  an  officer  retires  without 
the  deepest  regret  and  reluctance.  So  strong  is  the 
attachment,  and  so  fascinating  the  idea  of  participat 
ing  with  our  illustrious  commander  in  military  glory, 
that  a  separation  is  like  a  relinquishment  of  princi 
ple,  and  abandonment  of  the  great  interest  of  our 
native  country. 

3d. — Our  brigade  took  possession  of  our  huts  for 
the  winter,  in  the  woods  about  two  miles  in  the  rear 
of  the  works  at  West  Point.  Our  situation  is  singu 
larly  romantic,  on  a  highly  elevated  spot,  surrounded 
by  mountains  and  craggy  rocks  of  a  prodigious  size, 
lofty  broken  clifts,  and  the  banks  of  the  beautifully 
meandering  Hudson,  affording  a  view  of  the  country 
for  many  miles  in  all  directions.  We  have  now  no 
longer  reason  to  complain  of  our  accommodations ;  the 
huts  are  warm  and  comfortable,  wood  in  abundance 
at  our  doors,  and  a  tolerable  supply  of  provisions. 
Our  only  complaint  is  want  of  money. 

4th. — Reports  of  a  very  serious  and  alarming  na 
ture  have  this  day  reached  us  from  the  Jerseys.  The 
Pennsylvania  line  of  troops,  consisting  of  about  two 
thousand  men,  in  winter  quarters  in  the  vicinity  of 
Morristown,  have  come  to  the  desperate  resolution 
of  revolting  from  their  officers.  Though  the  Penn 
sylvania  troops  have  been  subjected  to  all  the  dis 
couragements  and  difficulties  felt  by  the  rest  of  the 
army,  some  particular  circumstances  peculiar  to  them 
selves  have  contributed  to  produce  the  revolt.  When 
the  soldiers  first  enlisted,  the  recruiting  officers  were 
provided  with  enlisting  rolls  for  the  term  of  three 
years,  or  during  the  continuance  of  the  war,  and  as 
the  officers  indulged  the  opinion,  that  the  war  would 
not  continue  more  than  three  years,  they  were  per 
haps  indifferent  in  which  column  the  soldier's  name 
was  inserted,  leaving  it  liable  to  an  ambiguity  of  con- 


296  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

struction.  It  is  clear  however,  that  a  part  enlisted 
for  three  years,  and  others  for  the  more  indefinite  term 
"  during  the  war/'  The  soldiers  now  contend,  that 
they  enlisted  for  three  years  at  furthest,  and  were 
to  have  been  discharged  sooner,  in  case  the  war  ter 
minated  before  the  expiration  of  this  term.  The  war 
being  protracted  beyond  the  time  expected,  and  the 
officers,  knowing  the  value  of  soldiers  who  have  been 
trained  by  three  years'  service,  are  accused  of  putting 
a  different  construction  on  the  original  agreement, 
and  claiming  their  services  during  the  war.  The 
soldiers,  even  those  who  actually  enlisted  for  the  war, 
having  received  very  small  bounties,  complain  of  im 
position  and  deception,  and  their  case  is  extremely 
aggravated  by  the  fact,  that  three  half  joes  have  now 
been  offered  as  a  bounty  to  others,  who  will  enlist  for 
the  remainder  of  the  war,  when  these  veteran  soldiers 
have  served  three  years  for  a  mere  shadow  of  compen 
sation  !  It  was  scarcely  necessary  to  add  to  their  trying 
circumstances,  a  total  want  of  pay  for  twelve  months, 
and  a  state  of  nakedness  and  famine,  to  excite  in  a 
soldier  the  spirit  of  insurrection.  The  officers  them 
selves,  also  feeling  aggrieved,  and  in  a  destitute  con 
dition,  relaxed  in  their  system  of  camp  discipline, 
and  the  soldiers  occasionally  overheard  their  mur 
murs  and  complaints.  Having  appointed  a  sergeant 
major  for  their  commander,  styling  him  major  general, 
and  having  concerted  their  arrangements,  on  the  first 
day  of  the  new  year,  they  put  their  mutinous  scheme 
into  execution.  On  a  preconcerted  signal,  the  whole 
line,  except  a  part  of  three  regiments,  paraded  under 
arms  without  their  officers,  marched  to  the  magazines, 
and  supplied  themselves  with  provisions  and  am 
munition,  and  seizing  six  field  pieces  took  horses 
from  General  Wayne's  stable  to  transport  them. 
The  officers  of  the  line  collected  those  who  had  not 
yet  joined  the  insurgents  and  endeavored  to  restore 
order,  but  the  revolters  fired  and  killed  a  Captain 
Billing,  and  wounded  several  other  officers,  and  a 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,   1781.  297 

few  men  were  killed  on  each  side.  The  mutineer? 
commanded  the  party,  who  opposed  them,  to  come 
over  to  them  instantly,  or  they  should  be  bayonelted, 
and  the  order  was  obeyed.  General  Wayne,  who 
commanded  the  Pennsylvania  troops,  endeavored  to 
interpose  his  influence  and  authority,  urging  them 
to  return  to  their  duty,  till  their  grievances  could  be 
inquired  into  and  redressed.  But  all  was  to  no  pur 
pose,  and  on  cocking  his  pistol,  they  instantly  pre 
sented  their  bayonets  to  his  breast,  saying,  ••  We 
respect  and  love  you  ;  often  have  you  led  us  into  the 
field  of  battle,  but  we  are  no  longer  under  your  com 
mand  ;  we  warn  you  to  be  on  your  guard ;  if  you 
fire  your  pistols,  or  attempt  to  enforce  your  com 
mands,  we  shall  put  you  instantly  to  death."  General 
Wayne  next  expostulated  with  them,  expressing  his 
apprehension  that  they  were  about  to  sacrifice  the 
glorious  cause  of  their  country,  and  that  the  enemy 
would  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  advance 
and  improve  so  favorable  an  occasion.  They  assured 
him,  that  they  still  retained  an  attachment  and  respect 
for  the  cause  which  they  had  embraced,  and  that,  so 
far  from  a  disposition  to  abandon  it,  if  the  enemy 
should  dare  to  come  out  of  New  York,  they  would, 
under  his  and  his  oflicers  orders,  face  them  in  the 
field,  and  oppose  them  to  the  utmost  in  their  power. 
They  complained  that  they  had  been  imposed  on  and 
deceived  respecting  the  term  of  their  enlistment,  that 
they  had  received'  no  wages  for  more  than  a  year, 
and  that  they  were  destitute  of  clothing,  and  had 
often  been  deprived  of  their  rations.  These  were 
their  grievances,  and  they  were  determined  to  march 
to  Philadelphia,  and  demand  of  Congress  that  justice 
which  had  so  long  been  denied  them.  They  com 
menced  their  march  in  regular  military  order,  and 
when  encamped  at  night,  they  posted  out  piquets, 
guards,  and  sentinels.  General  Wayne,  to  prevent 
their  depredations  on  private  property,  supplied 
them  with  provisions,  and  he,  with  Colonels  Stewart 
38 


298  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

and  Butler,  officers  whom  the  soldiers  respected  and 
loved,  followed  and  mixed  with  them,  to  watch  their 
motions  and  views,  and  they  received  from  them  re 
spectful  and  civil  treatment.  On  the  third  day,  the 
insurgent  troops  reached  Princeton,  and,  by  request 
of  General  Wayne,  they  deputed  a  committee  of  ser 
geants,  who  stated  to  him  formally  in  writing  their 
claims,  as  follows.  1st.  A  discharge  for  all  those, 
without  exception,  who  had  served  three  years  under 
their  original  engagements,  and  had  not  received  the 
increased  bounty  and  re-enlisted  for  the  war.  2d.  An 
immediate  payment  of  all  their  arrears  of  pay  and 
clothing,  both  to  those  who  should  be  discharged, 
and  those  who  should  be  retained.  3d.  The  residue 
of  their  bounty,  to  put  them  on  an  equal  footing  with 
those  recently  enlisted,  and  future  substantial  pay  to 
those,  who  should  remain  in  the  service.  To  these 
demands,  in  their  full  extent,  General  Wayne  could 
not  feel  himself  authorized  to  answer  in  the  affirma 
tive,  and  a  further  negotiation  was  referred  to  the 
civil  authority  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  General 
Washington,  whose  head  quarters  are  at  New  Wind 
sor,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  received  the  in 
telligence  on  the  3d  instant,  and  summoned  a  council 
of  war,  consisting  of  the  general  and  field  officers,  to 
devise  the  most  proper  measures  to  be  pursued,  on  this 
alarming  occasion.  Great  apprehension  was  entertain 
ed,  that  other  troops,  who  have  equal  cause  of  discon 
tent,  would  be  excited  to  adopt  a  similar  course.  It 
is  ordered,  that  five  battalions  be  formed  by  detach 
ments  from  the  several  lines,  to  be  held  in  perfect 
readiness  to  march  on  the  shortest  notice,  with  four 
days'  provision  cooked ;  and  measures,  it  is  under 
stood,  are  taken  to  bring  the  militia  into  immediate 
service,  if  required.  Intelligence  of  the  revolt  hav 
ing  reached  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  he  cherished  the 
hope  that,  by  encouraging  a  rebellion,  and  turning 
the  swords  of  our  own  soldiers  against  their  country 
and  brethren,  he  should  have  it  in  his  power  to  effect 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  299 

an  object,  which  by  his  own  arms  he  could  not  accom 
plish.  He  immediately  despatched  two  emissaries, 
a  British  sergeant,  and  one  Ogden,  of  New  Jersey, 
to  the  dissatisfied  troops,  with  written  instructions, 
that  by  laying  down  their  arms  and  marching  to  New 
York,  they  should  receive  their  arrearages  and  de 
preciation  in  hard  cash,  and  should  be  well  clothed, 
have  a  free  pardon  lor  all  past  offences,  and  be  taken 
under  the  protection  of  the  British  government,  and 
no  military  service  should  be  required  of  them,  unless 
voluntarily  offered.  They  were  requested  to  send 
persons  to  meet  agents,  who  would  be  appointed  by 
Sir  Henry,  to  adjust  the  terms  of  a  treaty,  and  the 
British  general  himself  passed  over  to  Staten  Island, 
having  a  large  body  of  troops  in  readiness  to  act  as 
circumstances  might  require.  The  proposals  from 
the  enemy  were  rejected  with  disdain,  and  the  muti 
neers  delivered  the  papers  to  General  Wayne,  but 
refused  to  give  up  the  emissaries,  preferring  to  keep 
them  in  durance  till  their  difficulties  could  be  discuss 
ed  and  settled.  A  committee  of  Congress  was  appoint 
ed,  who  conferred  with  the  executive  council  of  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  by  the  latter  authority, 
an  accommodation  of  the  affairs  with  the  revolters 
has  been  effected,  by  giving  an  interpretation  favor 
able  to  the  soldiers,  of  the  enlistments  which  were 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  declaring  them  to 
expire  at  the  end  of  three  years.  The  insurgents 
now  surrendered  the  two  emissaries  into  the  hands 
of  General  Wayne,  on  the  stipulated  condition,  that 
they  should  not  be  executed  till  their  affairs  should 
be  compromised,  or  in  case  of  failure,  the  prisoners 
should  be  redelivered  when  demanded.  They  were 
eventually  however,  tried  as  spies,  convicted  and  im 
mediately  executed.  A  board  of  commissioners  was 
now  appointed,  of  whom  three  were  deputed  from 
the  revolters,  authorized  to  determine  what  descrip 
tion  of  soldiers  should  be  discharged.  The  result  is, 
that  the  soldiers  have  accomplished  their  views,  the 


300  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

committee,  from  prudential  motives,  without  waiting 
for  the  enlisting  papers,  complied  with  their  de 
mands,  and  discharged  from  service  a  majority  of  the 
line,  on  their  making  oath,  that  they  enlisted  for  three 
years  only.  The  enlisting  rolls  having  since  been 
produced,  it  is  found  that  hy  far  the  largest  number 
of  those  liberated,  had  actually  enlisted  for  the  whole 
war.  Thus  has  terminated  a  most  unfortunate  trans 
action,  which  might  have  been  prevented,  had  the 
just  complaints  of  the  army  received  proper  attention 
in  due  season.  General  Wayne  is  a  native  of  Penn 
sylvania,  and  has  acquired  the  affection  of  the  sol 
diery  of  that  state.  He  possesses  a  commanding  pre 
sence,  genteel  and  pleasing  address,  a  daring  bravery, 
is  excellent  in  discipline,  aspiring  and  unrivalled  in 
enterprize,  and  is  held  in  high  respect  by  his  com 
patriots  in  arms. 

A  detachment,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Hull,  has  returned  from  a  successful  expedi 
tion,  having  attacked  by  surprize,  the  royal  refugee 
corps,  under  the  command  of  the  noted  Colonel  De- 
lancy,  posted  at  Morrisania.  Colonel  Hull  has  for 
several  months  past,  sustained  the  command  of  a  de 
tachment  of  our  troops  posted  in  advance  of  our  army, 
a  situation  requiring  the  most  active  vigilance  and 
precaution,  to  guard  against  surprize  and  stratagem. 
In  this  station,  as  in  many  others,  this  officer  has 
evinced  his  military  skill  and  judgment.  He  has 
executed  an  enterprize  with  such  address  and  gallan 
try,  as  to  merit  for  himself  and  his  detachment,  the 
highest  honor.  He  bravely  forced  a  narrow  passage 
to  the  enemy,  and  besides  a  number  being  killed,  he 
took  upwards  of  fifty  prisoners,  cut  away  the  bridge, 
burnt  their  huts  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  forage, 
and  brought  off  a  number  of  horses  and  cattle. 
Colonel  Hull  possesses  in  a  high  degree,  the  confi 
dence  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  for  his  judi 
cious  arrangements  in  the  plan,  and  intrepidity  and 
ralor  in  the  execution  of  the  enterprize,  he  received 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781.  301 

the  thanks  of  his  Excellency,  and  afterwards  of  Con 
gress.  The  enemy  pursued  our  troops,  and  fell  in 
with  a  covering  party,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Hazen,  and  in  a  skirmish  which  ensued,  they  suffered 
an  additional  loss  of  about  thirty  five  men.  Of  Colo 
nel  Hull's  detachment,  one  ensign,  and  twenty  five 
rank  and  file  were  killed  and  wounded.  This  suc 
cessful  exploit  is  calculated  to  raise  the  spirits  of  our 
troops,  and  to  divert  their  minds  from  the  unhappy 
occurrence,  which  has  recently  taken  place  in  camp, 
and  at  the  same  time  it  may  convince  the  enemy,  that 
the  affairs  of  our  army  are  not  altogether  desperate. 

We  are  again  afflicted  with  alarming  intelligence. 
That  part  of  the  Jersey  line  of  troops,  which  are 
cantoned  at  Pompton,  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey,  have 
followed  the  example  of  the  Pennsylvanians,  having 
revolted  and  abandoned  their  officers.  General 
Washington  is  resolutely  determined,  that  this  in 
stance  of  mutiny  shall  not  pass  with  impunity.  In 
stead  of  temporizing,  he  has  ordered  a  detachment 
of  five  hundred  men,  properly  officered,  to  march 
for  the  purpose  of  reducing  them  to  a  proper  sense 
of  duty.  It  falls  to  my  lot  to  accompany  the  detach 
ment.  Major  General  Robert  Howe  commands  on 
this  expedition,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Sprout  is 
second  in  command,  and  the  other  field  officers  are, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Mellen  and  Major  Oliver.  We 
marched  on  the  23d,  as  far  as  the  forest  of  Dean, 
and  at  night  crowded  into  houses  and  barns.  A 
body  of  snow  about  two  feet  deep,  without  any  track, 
rendered  the  march  extremely  difficult.  Having 
no  horse,  I  experienced  inexpressible  fatigue,  and 
was  obliged  several  times  to  sit  down  on  the  snow. 
24th,  Marched  over  the  mountains,  and  reached 
Carle's  tavern,  in  Smith's  clove,  halted  for  two  hours, 
then  proceeded  thirteen  miles,  and  quartered  our 
men  in  the  scattering  houses  and  barns.  25th, 
Marched  nine  miles,  and  reached  Ringwood.  Gen 
eral  Howe  and  all  the  field  officers  look  lodgings  at 


302  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

the  house  of  Mrs.  Erskine,  the  amiable  widow  of  the 
late  respectable  geographer  of  our  army.  We  were 
entertained  with  an  elegant  supper  and  excellent 
wine.  Mrs.  Erskine  is  a  sensible  and  accomplished 
woman,  lives  in  a  style  of  affluence  and  fashion ; 
every  thing  indicates  wealth,  taste  and  splendor ; 
and  she  takes  pleasure  in  entertaining  the  friends  of 
her  late  husband,  with  generous  hospitality. 

Marched  on  the  27th,  at  one  o'clock,  A.  M.  eight 
miles,  which  brought  us  in  view  of  the  huts  of  the 
insurgent  soldiers  by  dawn  of  day.  Here  we  halted 
for  an  hour,  to  make  the  necessary  preparations. 
Some  of  our  officers  suffered  much  anxiety,  lest  the 
soldiers  would  not  prove  faithful  on  this  trying  occa 
sion.  Orders  were  given  to  load  their  arms — it  was 
obeyed  with  alacrity,  and  indications  were  given  that 
they  were  to  be  relied  on.  Being  paraded  in  a  line, 
General  Howe  harangued  them,  representing  the 
heinousness  of  the  crime  of  mutiny,  and  the  absolute 
necessity  of  military  subordination,  adding  that  the 
mutineers  must  be  brought  to  an  unconditional  sub 
mission,  no  temporizing,  no  listening  to  terms  of 
compromise,  while  in  a  state  of  resistance.  Two 
field  pieces  were  now  ordered  to  be  placed  in  view 
of  the  insurgents,  and  the  troops  were  directed  to 
surround  the  huts  on  all  sides.  General  Howe  next 
ordered  his  aid  de  camp  to  command  the  mutineers 
to  appear  on  parade  in  front  of  their  huts  unarmed, 
within  five  minutes  ;  observing  them  to  hesitate,  a 
second  messenger  was  sent,  and  they  instantly  obeyed 
the  command,  and  paraded  in  a  line  without  arms, 
being  in  number  between  two  and  three  hundred. 
Finding  themselves  closely  encircled  and  unable  to 
resist,  they  quietly  Submitted  to  the  fate  which 
awaited  them.  General  Howe  ordered,  that  three 
of  the  ringleaders  should  be  selected  as  victims  for 
condign  punishment.  These  unfortunate  culprits 
were  tried  on  the  spot,  Colonel  Sprout  being  Presi 
dent  of  the  court  martial,  standing  on  the  snow,  and 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,,  1781.  303 

they  were  sentenced  to  be  immediately  shot.  Twelve 
of  the  most  guilty  mutineers,  were  next  selected  to 
"be  their  executioners.  This  was  a  most  painful  task  ; 
being  themselves  guilty,  they  were  greatly  distressed 
with  the  duty  imposed  on  them,  and  when  ordered 
to  load,  some  of  them  shed  tears.  The  wretched 
victims,  overwhelmed  by  the  terrors  of  death,  had 
neither  time  nor  or  power  to  implore  the  mercy  and 
forgiveness  of  their  God,  and  such  was  their  agoniz 
ing  condition,  that  no  heart  could  refrain  from  emo 
tions  of  sympathy  and  compassion.  The  first  that 
suffered,  was  a  sergeant,  and  an  old  offender ;  he  was 
led  a  few  yards  distance  and  placed  on  his  knees ; 
six  of  the  executioners,  at  the  signal  given  by  an 
officer,  fired,  three  aiming  at  the  head  and  three  at 
the  breast,  the  other  six  reserving  their  fire  in  order 
to  despatch  the  victim,  should  the  first  fire  fail ;  it 
so  happened  in  this  instance ;  the  remaining  si* 
then  fired  and  life  was  instantly  extinguished.  The 
second  criminal  was,  by  the  first  fire,  sent  into  eter 
nity  in  an  instant.  The  third  being  less  criminal, 
by  the  recommendation  of  his  officers,  to  his  un 
speakable  joy,  received  a  pardon.  This  tragical 
scene  produced  a  dreadful  shock,  and  a  salutary 
effect  on  the  minds  of  the  guilty  soldiers.  Never 
were  men  more  completely  humbled  and  penitent; 
tears  of  sorrow,  and  of  joy,  rushed  from  their  eyes, 
and  each  one  appeared  to  congratulate  himself,  that 
his  forfeited  life  had  been  spared.  The  executions 
being  finished,  General  Howe  ordered  the  former 
officers  to  take  their  stations,  and  resume  their  re 
spective  commands ;  he  then,  in  a  very  pathetic  and 
affecting  manner,  addressed  the  whole  line  by  platoons, 
endeavoring  to  impress  their  minds  with  a  sense  of 
the  enormity  of  their  crime,  and  the  dreadful  con 
sequences  that  might  have  resulted.  He  then  com 
manded  them  to  ask  pardon  of  their  officers,  and 
promise  to  devote  themselves  to  the  faithful  discharge 
of  their  duty  as  soldiers  in  future.  It  is  most  pain- 


304  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

fill  to  reflect,  that  circumstances  should  imperiously 
demand  the  infliction  of  capital  punishment  on  sol 
diers,  who  have  more  than  a  shadow  of  plea  to  ex 
tenuate  their  crime.  These  unfortunate  men  have 
long  suffered  many  serious  grievances,  which  they 
have  sustained  with  commendable  patience  ;  but  have 
at  length  lost  their  confidence  in  public  justice.  The 
success  of  the  Pennsylvania  insurgents,  undoubtedly 
encouraged  them  to  hope  for  exemption  from  pun 
ishment.  But  the  very  existence  of  an  army  de 
pends  on  proper  discipline  and  subordination.  The 
arm  of  authority  must  be  exerted,  and  public  ex 
amples  be  exhibited,  to  deter  from  the  commission 
of  crimes.  The  spirit  of  revolt  must  be  effectually 
repressed,  or  a  total  annihilation  of  the  army,  is  in 
evitable.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  on  this  occasion  had 
his  hopes  again  excited ;  ever  ready  to  profit  by 
treachery,  or  revolt,  he  despatched  an  emissary  to 
encourage  the  insurrection,  and  to  make  the  most 
tempting  offers  to  induce  the  mutineers  to  desert, 
and  join  the  British  standard ;  but  the  messenger 
himself  frustrated  his  hopes,  by  delivering  the  papers 
to  our  own  officers. 

Having  completed  the  object  of  our  expedition, 
we  returned  to  our  cantonments  on  the  31st  instant. 

February. — Major  General  Greene  has  transmitted 
to  Congress  an  account  of  a  brilliant  action  of  Gen 
eral  Sumpter,  of  the  southern  army,  a  few  weeks 
since.  General  Sumpter  engaged  with  a  body  of 
three  hundred  cavalry,  of  Tarleton's  legion,  and 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  British  infantry.  The 
conflict  was  warm  and  close,  in  which  the  enemy 
were  repulsed.  They  rallied,  and  on  the  second 
charge  were  repulsed  again.  They  made  a  third 
effort,  but  a  fire  from  an  eminence,  occupied  by  the 
continentals,  gave  them  an  effectual  check  ;  they 
quitted  the  field  and  retired,  leaving  ninety  dead 
and  one  hundred  wounded.  Only  three  were  killed 
and  four  wounded,  on  the  part  of  the  Americans, 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  305 

among  the  latter  is  General  Sumpter.  A  party  of 
lories  from  the  outposts  of  the  British,  advanced  to 
intercept  the  wagons,  and  avail  themselves  of  the 
supplies.  General  Small  wood  despatched  Brigadier 
General  Morgan,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washing 
ton  to  attack  them.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washington, 
heing  destitute  of  artillery,  made  use  of  the  following 
stratagem.  He  mounted  on  a  carriage  a  pine  log, 
cut  into  the  form  of  a  cannon,  and  holding  out  the 
appearance  of  an  attack  with  field  pieces,  gained  his 
point  hy  sending  a  flag,  and  demanding  the  immediate 
surrender  of  Colonel  Hugely  and  his  party,  consist 
ing  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  men,  who  on  the 
approach  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washington,  had 
retired  to  a  log  barn  on  Rugely's  plantation.  They 
surrendered  without  firing  a  gun. 

10th. — Accounts  have  been  received,  that  an  ac 
tion  has  been  fought  at  a  place  called  the  Cowpens, 
in  Carolina,  between  a  body  of  the  enemy,  under  the 
celebrated  Colonel  Tarleton,  with  one  thousand  one 
hundred  men,  and  a  party  of  about  eight  hundred 
Americans,  under  the  command  of  the  equally  celebrat 
ed  General  Morgan  ;  the  enemy  \vere  totally  routed 
and  pursued  upwards  of  twenty  miles.  Of  Tarle- 
ton?s  party,  ten  officers  and  one  hundred  rank  and 
file  were  killed,  and  two  hundred  wounded,  twenty 
nine  officers  and  five  hundred  rank  and  file  were  taken 
prisoners,  with  two  field  pieces,  two  standards,  eight 
hundred  muskets,  thirty  five  wragons,  seventy  negroes, 
one  hundred  dragoon  horses,  one  travelling  forge, 
and  all  their  music.  The  loss  on  Morgan's  side  was 
not  more  than  twelve  killed,  and  sixty  wounded. 
Morgan  and  his  party  have  acquired  immortal  honor, 
and  in  this  action,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washington, 
and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Howard  were  most  highly 
distinguished  for  their  brave  and  gallant  conduct. 

14th. — General    Warner  and   Colonel   Ashley,  of 
Massachusetts,  have  arrived  at  West  Point,  to  dis 
tribute  to    the  soldiers   of  the   Massachusetts  line. 
39 


30G  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

engaged  for  a  small  bounty  to  serve  during  the  war, 
twenty  four  dollars  in  specie  each,  as  a  gratuity  from 
the  state.  This  very  generous  act,  serves  to  dissipate 
the  gloom  on  the  countenances  of  our  brave  soldiers ; 
it  enlivens  their  dejected  spirits,  and  convinces  them 
that  they  are  yet  the  objects  of  a  friendly  recollec 
tion. 

The  advance  guard  of  our  army,  consisting  of  about 
two  hundred  men,  is  posted  at  Crompond,  about 
twenty  miles  below  West  Point,  and  is  relieved  every 
two  or  three  weeks.  A  surgeon  constantly  attends, 
and  I  am  now  ordered  to  repair  to  that  post,  to  relieve 
Dr.  Thomas. 

March. — I  have  taken  my  quarters  at  Crompond, 
in  a  house  with  Major  Trescott,  who  commands  at 
this  post.  This  vicinity  is  constantly  harassed  by 
small  parties  of  volunteers  on  our  side,  and  parties  of 
royalists  and  tories  on  the  other,  who  are  making 
every  effort  to  effect  mutual  destruction  ;  seeking 
every  opportunity  to  beat  up  each  others'  quarters, 
and  to  kill  or  capture  all  who  are  found  in  arms, 
This  is  to  be  considered  as  a  very  hazardous  situation, 
it  requires  the  utmost  vigilance  to  guard  against  a 
surprize.  Major  Trescott  is  an  excellent  disciplina 
rian,  an  active  vigilant  oflicer,  and  well  acquainted 
with  his  duty.  A  party  of  volunteers  collected  here 
on  horseback,  for  a  secret  expedition,  and  by  their 
earnest  request  Major  Trescott  marched  in  the  night 
with  a  party  to  cover  their  retreat,  and  to  take  any 
advantage  which  might  offer.  The  party  returned  the 
next  day  with  six  tory  prisoners,  three  of  whom  were 
wounded  by  the  broad  sword.  One  of  our  volunteers, 
named  Hunt,  received  a  dangerous  wound  through  his 
shoulder  and  lungs,  the  air  escaped  from  the  wound 
at  every  breath.  Dr.  Eustis  came  to  the  lines,  and 
dilated  the  wound  in  the  breast,  and  as  the  patient 
is  athletic  and  had  not  sustained  a  very  copious  loss 
of  blood,  he  recommended  repeated  and  liberal  blood 
letting,  observing,  that  in  order  to  cure  a  wound 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  307 

through  the  lungs,  you  must  bleed  your  patient  to 
death.  He  eventually  recovered,  which  is  to  he  as- 
crihed  principally  to  the  free  use  of  the  lancet  and 
such  abstemious  living,  as  to  reduce  him  to  the  great 
est  extremity.  A  considerable  number  of  wounded 
prisoners  receive  my  daily  attention. 

A  gentleman  volunteer,  by  name  Requaw,  received 
a  dangerous  wound  and  was  carried  into  the  British 
lines ;  I  was  requested  by  his  brother  to  visit  him, 
under  the  sanction  of  a  flag  of  truce,  in  company  with 
Dr.  White,  who  resides  in  this  vicinity.  This  invi 
tation  I  cheerfully  accepted,  and  Mr.  Requaw  hav 
ing  obtained  a  flag  from  the  proper  authority  and 
procured  horses,  we  set  off  in  the  morning,  arrived 
at  West  Chester  before  evening,  and  dressed  the 
wounded  man.  We  passed  the  night  at  Mrs.  Bar- 
stow's,  mother-in-law  of  Dr.  W.  She  has  remained 
at  her  farm  between  the  lines  during  the  war,  and 
being  friendly  to  our  interest,  has  received  much 
abusive  treatment  from  the  royalists.  We  wrere  treat 
ed  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  and  her  daughter,  a 
sensible  well  educated  girl,  entertained  us  in  con 
versation  till  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  relating 
numerous  occurrences  and  incidents  of  an  interesting 
nature,  respecting  the  royal  party.  The  next  day 
we  visited  our  patient  again,  paid  the  necessary 
attention  and  repaired  to  a  tavern,  where  I  was  grati 
fied  with  an  interview  with  the  much  famed  Colonel 
Delancy,  who  commands  the  refugee  corps.  He  con 
ducted  with  much  civility,  and  having  a  public  din 
ner  prepared  at  the  tavern,  he  invited  us  to  dine 
with  him  and  his  officers.  After  dinner,  Colonel 
Delancy  furnished  us  with  a  permit  to  return  with 
our  flag  ;  we  rode  ten  miles,  and  took  lodgings  in  a 
private  house.  Here  we  were  informed,  that  six  of 
our  men,  having  taken  from  the  refugees  thirty  head 
of  cattle,  were  overtaken  by  forty  of  Delancy's  corps 
and  were  all  killed  but  one,  and  the  cattle  retaken. 
In  the  morning, 'breakfasted  with  a  friendly  quakev 


308  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

family,  in  whose  house  was  one  of  our  men  who 
had  been  wounded,  when  four  others  were  killed ;  we 
dressed  his  wounds,  which  were  numerous  and  dan 
gerous.  In  another  house,  we  saw  four  dead  bodies, 
mangled  in  a  most  inhuman  manner  by  the  refugees, 
and  among  them,  one  groaning  under  five  wounds  on 
his  head,  two  of  them  quite  through  his  skull  bone 
with  a  broad  sword.  This  man  was  capable  of  giving 
us  an  account  of  the  murder  of  his  four  companions. 
They  surrendered  and  begged  for  life,  but  their  en 
treaties  were  disregarded,  and  the  swords  of  their 
cruel  foes  were  plunged  into  their  bodies  so  long  as 
signs  of  life  remained.  We  found  many  friends  to 
our  cause,  who  reside  on  their  farms  between  the  lines 
of  the  two  armies,  whose  situation  is  truly  deplorable, 
being  continually  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  the  tories, 
horse  thieves,  and  cow-boys,  who  rob  and  plunder 
them  without  mercy,  and  the  personal  abuse  and 
punishments  which  they  inflict,  is  almost  incredible. 
The  particulars  of  which  have  been  already  noticed, 
page  284. 

On  the  4th  of  this  month,  the  grand  confederation 
and  perpetual  union  of  the  Thirteen  American  States, 
from  New  Hampshire  to  Georgia,  inclusive,  was  sign 
ed  and  ratified  by  all  the  delegates  in  Congress.  This 
instrument  has  long  been  a  subject  of  discussion  and 
consideration  by  the  several  states,  and  by  some,  con 
siderable  opposition  has  been  maintained  against  it, 
which  has  impeded  its  ratification.  It  consists  of 
thirteen  articles,  entitled  Articles  of  Confederation 
and  Perpetual  Union  between  the  Thirteen  •Ameri 
can  States.  By  this  instrument,  each  state  retains  its 
sovereignty,  freedom  and  independence,  and  the 
states  severally,  enter  into  a  firm  league  of  friend 
ship  with  each  other  for  their  common  defence,  the 
security  of  their  liberties,  and  their  mutual  and  gen 
eral  welfare,  &c.  &c. 

JlpriL — I  received  orders  to  return  to  the  high 
lands  near  West  Point,  to  inoculate  the  troops  with 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  309 

the  small  pox.     Dined  with  Colonel  Scammel,  on  my 
route,  with  a  number  of  gentlemen. 

12th. — Crossed  the  Hudson,  to  the  hospital  at  Ro 
binson's  house,  and  passed  the  night  with  Dr.  Eustis, 
the  next  day  accompanied  him  to  Peekskill  to  visit 
the  family  of  Colonel  Laurence,  who  are  under  inocu 
lation  with  the  small  pox,  thence  to  the  quarters  of 
Colonel  Scammel  and  Dr.  Findlay,  returned  to  the 
hospital  at  night,  and  the  next  day  crossed  with  Dr. 
Eustis,  to  West  Point,  and  dined  at  General  Heath's 
quarters. 

20th. — A  soldier  was  hanged  to  day  for  desertion, 
and  another  was  pardoned  under  the  gallows  with  a 
rope  round  his  neck. 

All  the  soldiers,  with  the  women  and  children, 
who  have  not  had  the  small  pox,  are  now  under  inocu 
lation.  Of  our  regiment,  one  hundred  and  eighty 
seven  were  subjects  of  the  disease.  The  old  practice 
of  previous  preparation  by  a  course  of  mercury  and 
low  diet,  has  not  been  adopted  on  this  occasion,  a 
single  dose  of  jalap  and  calomel,  or  of  the  extract  of 
butternut,  j uglans  cinerea,  is  in  general  administered 
previous  to  the  appearance  of  the  symptoms.  As  to 
diet,  we  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  destitute  of  the 
necessary  comfortable  articles  of  food,  and  they  sub 
sist  principally  on  their  common  rations  of  beef, 
bread  and  salt  pork.  A  small  quantity  of  rice,  sugar, 
or  molasses,  and  tea  are  procured  for  those  who  are 
dangerously  sick.  Some  instances  have  occurred  of 
putrid  fever  supervening,  either  at  the  first  onset,  or 
at  the  approach  of  the  secondary  stage,  and  a  few 
eases  have  terminated  fatally.  Many  of  our  patients 
were  improper  subjects  for  the  disease,  but  we  were 
under  the  necessity  of  inoculating  all,  without  excep 
tion,  whatever  might  be  their  condition  as  to  health. 
Of  five  hundred  who  have  been  inoculated,  four  only 
have  died,  but  in  other  instances,  the  proportion  of 
deaths  is  much  more  considerable.  The  extract  of 
butternut  is  made  by  boiling  down  the  inner  bark  of 


310  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

the  tree ;  the  discovery  of  this  article  is  highly  im 
portant,  and  it  may  he  considered  as  a  valuable  ac 
quisition  to  our  materia  medica.  The  country  people 
have  for  some  time  been  in  the  practice  of  using  it, 
and  Dr.  Rush,  who  was  for  a  short  period  at  the  head 
of  our  hospital  department,  has  recommended  the 
employment  of  it  among  our  patients,  as  a  mild  yet 
sufficiently  active  cathartic,  and  a  valuable  and  econo 
mical  substitute  for  jalap.  It  operates  without  creat 
ing  heat  or  irritation,  and  is  found  to  be  efficacious  in 
cases  of  dysentery  and  bilious  complaints.  As  the  but 
ternut  tree  abounds  in  our  country,  we  may  obtain  at 
a  very  little  expense,  a  valuable  domestic  article  of 
medicine.  Though  there  is  much  reason  to  suppose 
that  our  own  soil  is  prolific  in  remedies  adapted  to 
the  diseases  of  our  country,  the  butternut  is  the  only 
cathartic  deserving  of  confidence,  which  w7e  have  yet 
discovered. 

30th. — Dined  at  West  Point,  witli  Dr.  Thomas, 
and  accompanied  him  to  General  Patterson's  quarters, 
the  general  humorously  apologized,  that  he  could 
afford  us  nothing  better  than  a  miserable  glass  of 
whiskey  grog.  Passed  the  river  to  the  hospital. 
Dr.  Eustis  being  indisposed,  he  requested  me  to  bleecj. 
him,  and  I  passed  the  night  at  the  Point. 

Intelligence  has  reached  us,  that  Brigadier  General 
Peleg  Wadsworth,  who  commanded  a  detachment  of 
militia  at  a  place  called  Camden,  in  the  province  of 
Maine,  has  been  surprized  and  taken  prisoner,  in  the, 
night,  by  a  party  of  British  soldiers,  sent  for  this 
purpose  from  their  post  at  Penobscot.  It  is  added, 
that  the  general  defended  himself  in  the  most  daring 
and  spirited  manner,  till  he  received  a  wound  and 
was  entirely  overpowered.  See  the  particulars  of 
this  extraordinary  affair,  in  the  Appendix. 

I  accompanied  Dr.  John  Hart  to  New  Windsor,  to 
pay  our  respects  to  Dr.  John  Cochran,  who  is  lately 
promoted  to  the  office  of  Director  General  of  the 
hospitals  of  the  United  States,  as  successor  to  Dr. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  311 

Shippen,  resigned.  We  dined  with  Dr.  Cochran,  in 
company  with  Drs.  Eustis  and  S.  Adams.  Dr.  Coch 
ran,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  served  in  the 
office  of  surgeon's  mate  in  the  hospital  department 
during  the  war  between  the  English  and  French, 
which  commenced  in  America  in  1755,  and  left  the 
service  with  the  reputation  of  an  able  and  experi 
enced  practitioner.  From  that  time  to  this,  he  has 
devoted  himself  to  his  professional  pursuits  in  New 
Jersey,  and  has  been  eminently  distinguished  as  a 
practitioner  in  medicine  and  surgery.  Finding  his 
native  country  involved  in  a  war  with  Great  Britain, 
his  zeal  and  attachment  to  her  interest,  impelled  him 
to  the  theatre  of  action,  and  he  proffered  his  services 
as  a  volunteer  in  the  hospital  department.  General 
Washington,  justly  appreciating  his  merit  and  charac 
ter,  recommended  him  to  Congress,  by  whom  he  was 
in  April,  1777,  appointed  physician  and  surgeon  gene 
ral  in  the  middle  department.  He  is  now  promoted 
to  the  office  of  director  general  of  the  hospitals  of  the 
United  States.*  Dr.  James  Craig,  who  now  succeeds 
Dr.  Cochran,  as  surgeon  and  physician  general,  was 
also  employed  in  the  French  war  of  1759,  with  Gen 
eral  Washington,  who  held  the  office  of  major,  and 
when  a  mutual  attachment  was  formed  between  them. 
By  intelligence  from  our  army  of  the  south,  under 
command  of  Major  General  Greene,  affairs  in  that 

*  Not  long  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Dr.  Cochran  removed  with  his 
family  to  New  York,  where  he  attended  to  the  duties  of  his  profession, 
till  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution,  when  his  friend,  President; 
Washington,  retaining,  to  use  his  own  words,  u  a  cheerful  recollection  of 
his  past  services,1'  nominated  him  to  the  office  of  commissioner  of  loans 
for  the  state  of  New  York.  This  office  he  held  till  a  paralytic  stroke 
disabled  him  in  some  measure  from  the  discharge  of  its  duties,  on 
which  he  gave  in  his  resignation,  and  retired  to  Palatine,  in  the  county 
of  Montgomery,  where  he  terminated  a  long  and  useful  life,  on  the  6th 
of  April,  1807,  in  the  77th  year  of  his  age. 

"  He  united  a  vigorous  mind  and  correct  judgment,  with  information 
derived  and  improved  from  long  experience,  and  faithful  habits  of  at 
tention  to  the  duties  of  his  profession."  He  possessed  the  pure  and 
inflexible  principles  of  patriotism,  and  his  integrity  was  unimpeachable. 
It  is  gratifying  to  have  this  opportunity  of  expressing  a  respectful  recol 
lection  of  his  urbanity  and  civilities,  and  of  affording  this  small  tribute 
to  his  cherished  memory. 


312  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

quarter  are  exceedingly  unpropitious  and  discourag 
ing.  The  troops  are  so  destitute  of  clothing,  that 
their  footsteps  are  marked  with  blood  for  want  of 
shoes ;  their  food  consists,  part  of  the  time,  of  rice, 
with  frogs  from  ponds  and  ditches,  and  sometimes  of 
peaches  and  berries.  When  they  obtain  a  small  sup 
ply  of  beef,  it  is  so  miserably  poor  as  scarcely  to  be 
eatable.  The  army  is  continually  harassed  in  march 
ing  through  the  country,  sometimes  executing  suc 
cessful  and  honorable  exploits,  and  again  compelled  to 
retreat  before  a  victorious  enemy  with  hair  breadth 
escapes.  Never  perhaps  were  opposing  commanders 
more  equally  matched,  than  General  Greene  and  Lord 
Cornwallis,  though  the  former  is  almost  constantly  la 
boring  under  the  disadvantage  of  inferiority  of  num 
bers,  and  of  physical  force.  General  Greene  commu 
nicates  to  Congress,  an  account  of  a  very  obstinate  and 
bloody  battle  fought  by  the  two  armies,  at  Guilford 
court-house,  North  Carolina,  a  few  weeks  since.  Our 
commander  was  compelled  to  yield  to  his  adversary, 
but  it  is  a  victory  purchased  at  a  ruinous  price. 
Seven  days  after  the  action,  General  Greene  writes, 
that  Coruwallis'  troops  were  too  much  galled  to  im 
prove  their  success,  that  he  had  been  preparing  for 
another  action,  expecting  the  enemy  to  advance,  but  of 
a  sudden  they  took  their  departure,  and  left  behind 
them  evident  marks  of  distress.  All  the  wounded  at 
Guilford  who  had  fallen  into  their  hands ;  and  seventy 
of  their  own,  too  ill  to  be  moved,  were  left  behind. 
Most  of  their  officers  suffered  ;  Lord  Cornwallis  had 
his  horse  shot  under  him.  Colonel  Stuart,  of  the 
guards,  was  killed.  General  O'Hara  and  Colonels 
Tarleton  and  Webster  wounded.  Their  whole  loss 
is  reported  to  be  six  hundred  and  sixty  three,  exclu 
sive  of  officers.  General  Greene  returned  three 
hundred  and  twenty  nine  killed,  wounded  and  mis 
sing  ;  many  of  the  latter  went  to  their  homes  after 
the  action.  Generals  Stevens  and  Hugar  were 
wounded. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  313 

A  large  detachment  of  British  troops  and  refugees, 
embarked  at  New  York  some  time  since,  bound  on 
an  expedition  to  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  the 
infamous  traitor  Arnold.  He  took  possession  of  Ports 
mouth,  on  James  river,  where  they  are  employed 
in  r?.vaging  and  rifling  the  plantations,  and  destroy 
ing  public  and  private  property.  Another  body  of 
royalists  has  lately  been  sent  from  New  York,  under 
Major  General  Phillips,  who,  now  having  the  chief 
command  of  the  British  in  Virginia,  united  with 
Arnold  in  a  predatory  warfare.  General  Phillips 
died  soon  after,  and  Arnold  again  resumed  the  com 
mand.  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  with  a  command 
of  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  light  infantry, 
detached  from  our  main  army,  is  on  his  march  to 
Virginia,  where  he  is  to  join  a  body  of  continentals 
and  militia  under  Baron  Steuben  and  General  Muh- 
lenburg,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  that  country 
from  the  depredations  of  the  enemy. 

The  continental  army  in  Carolina,  were  successful 
after  the  action  of  Guilford,  and  gained  the  ascen 
dency  in  that  quarter  over  the  British.  On  the 
10th  of  May,  Lord  Rawdon  evacuated  Camden  with 
precipitation,  leaving  behind  three  of  his  officers 
and  fifty  privates,  who  had  been  dangerously  wound 
ed  and  were  unable  to  be  removed.  He  burnt  the 
stores,  baggage,  &c.  ;  and  left  the  town  a  heap  of 
ruins.  The  next  day  the  strong  post  of  Orangeburg 
surrendered  to  General  Sumpter.  One  colonel, 
several  other  officers,  and  eighty  rank  and  file  were 
made  prisoners.  Next  followed  on  the  12th,  fort 
Motte,  the  garrison  consisting  of  nineteen  officers 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  who  surrendered 
to  General  Marion,  as  did  also  fort  Granby?  on  the 
14th,  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee,  when  one  lieutenant 
colonel,  two  majors,  six  captains,  six  lieutenants,  three 
ensigns,  one  surgeon,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty 
three  rank  and  file,  became  his  prisoners.  Large 
quantities  of  provisions  and  some  military  stores, 
40 


314  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

were  found  in  several  of  the  forts,  and  in  the  bag 
gage  belonging  to  the  nineteenth  regiment  were 
found  seven  hundred  guineas,  which  it  is  said  Gen 
eral  Greene  distributed  among  his  troops,  as  a  reward 
for  their  bravery  and  sufferings. 

May. — The  spirit  of  desertion  appears  to  prevail 
to  a  considerable  degree  among  both  the  British  and 
Hessians  at  New  York.  Instances  have  been  fre 
quent  for  several  months  past,  of  two  or  three  com 
ing  out  together.  Some  of  them  offer  to  engage  in 
our  service,  but  they  are  rejected  and  sent  into  the 
country,  where  they  cannot  effect  any  mischievous 
purpose.  Deserters  are  always  to  be  suspected,  as 
they  are  not  unfrequently  employed  as  spies,  who 
desert  back  again,  with  intelligence  for  the  enemy. 
Not  long  since,  a  Captain  Simmons,  of  Delancy's 
corps,  came  over  to  our  lines  and  was  sent  up  to  West 
Point.  He  asserted  that,  being  disaffected  with  the 
enemy  on  some  pretences,  he  had  resigned  his  com 
mission  and  deserted  from  them ;  he  was  delivered 
over  to  the  governor  of  the  state.  A  few  days  since 
a  groom  belonging  to  an  officer  in  the  British  service, 
deserted  with  a  valuable  horse  from  his  master, 
which  he  sold  for  one  hundred  dollars  in  specie. 

A  party  of  continental  troops,  commanded  by  Co 
lonel  Christopher  Greene,  of  Rhode  Island,  being 
stationed  on  our  lines  near  Croten  river,  were  sur 
prized  by  a  party  of  the  enemy,  about  sunrise  on 
the  13th  instant.  They  first  attacked  Colonel 
Greene's  and  Major  Flagg's  quarters,  and  killed  the 
major  while  in  bed.  The  colonel  being  badly  wound 
ed  in  the  house,  was  carried  into  the  woods  and  bar 
barously  murdered.  Two  subalterns  and  twenty 
seven  privates  were  also  killed,  and  a  lieutenant  and 
surgeon,  with  about  twenty  men  taken  prisoners. 
This  melancholy  event  is  most  deeply  regretted  ; 
Colonel  Greene  bravely  distinguished  himself  in  de 
fence  of  fort  Mercer,  at  Red  bank,  in  October,  1777, 
and  has  ever  been  considered  as  a  valiant  and  vigilant 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  315 

oflicer.  He  had  taken  post  in  a  situation  to  guard  a 
certain  fording  place  at  Croten  river,  and  had  practis 
ed  the  greatest  vigilance  in  the  night  time,  calling  off 
his  guards  at  sunrise,  on  the  idea  that  the  enemy  would 
not  presume  to  cross  in  the  day  time,  but  the  enemy 
having  learnt  his  mode  of  performing  duty,  effected 
their  purpose  by  crossing  the  ford  immediately  after 
the  guard  had  been  withdrawn,  and  the  surprize  was 
so  complete  that  no  practicable  defence  could  avail 
them.  It  will  not  be  denied,  that  an  enemy  may  be 
justified  in  availing  himself  of  every  opportunity  of 
gaining  an  advantage  over  his  antagonist,  or  that  in 
some  instances,  slaughter  is  unavoidable  ;  but  a  wan 
ton  and  unnecessary  sacrifice  of  life  is  on  all  occasions 
to  be  deprecated  as  a  disgraceful  violation  of  the 
dictates  of  humanity. 

General  Washington  has  performed  a  journey  to 
Connecticut,  for  the  purpose  of  an  interview  with 
the  Count  de  Rochambeau,  chief  commander  of  the 
French  troops,  now  at  Rhode  Island.  The  object  of 
this  interview  is  supposed  to  be  the  concerting  of  a 
system  of  measures  to  be  pursued  by  the  allied  army 
in  the  ensuing  campaign. 

Private  intelligence  from  a  confidential  source  we 
understand  has  been  received  at  head  quarters,  that 
a  plan  has  been  concerted  in  New  York,  to  send  out 
four  parties,  one  to  assassinate  or  take  General  Wash 
ington,  another  Governor  Livingston,  of  New  Jersey, 
a  third  Governor  Clinton,  of  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  the  object  of  the  fourth  is  unknown  ;  measures 
will  undoubtedly  be  adopted  to  guard  against  and 
defeat  this  singular  enterprize. 

It  has  several  times  happened  that  an  artful  and 
enterprizing  fellow,  by  the  name  of  Moody,  employ 
ed  by  the  British  in  New  York,  has  succeeded  in 
taking  our  mail  from  the  post  rider  on  the  road, 
though  he  has  had  some  very  remarkable  escapes. 
After  the  interview  of  General  Washington  and 
Count  Rochambeau,  the  British  were  particularly 


316  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

desirous  of  obtaining  intelligence  relative  to  the  re 
sult.  Accordingly  Moody  was  again  despatched  to 
effect  the  ohject.  Being  perfectly  well  acquainted 
with  the  roads  and  passes,  he  waylaid  the  mail  for 
some  days  in  the  Jerseys,  till  at  length  it  was  his  good 
fortune  to  possess  himself  of  that  very  mail  which 
contained  General  Washington's  despatches  to  Con 
gress,  communicating  the  information  which  was  the 
object  of  their  desires.  This  valuable  prize  he  had 
the  address  to  bear  off  to  New  York  in  safety. 

June  20th. — It  is  directed  in  general  orders,  that 
the  whole  army  at  this  place  march  and  encamp  at 
Peekskill,  leaving  the  invalids  and  a  small  party,  to 
garrison  West  Point.  One  of  the  three  divisions 
of  the  army  is  to  pass  the  Hudson  each  day,  till  all 
have  crossed. 

22d. — Our  division  of  the  army  crossed  the  Hudson 
at  West  Point  landing  yesterday,  and  reached  Peeks- 
kill  at  night.  We  have  left  our  cantonments  in  a 
woody  mountain,  affording  a  romantic  and  picturesque 
scenery  of  nature  clothed  in  her  wild  and  winter 
attire,  having  scarcely  the  appearance  of  vegetation. 
A  splendid  world  is  now  open  to  our  view,  all  nature 
is  in  animation — the  fields  and  meadows  display  the 
beauties  of  spring,  a  pleasing  variety  of  vegetables 
and  flowers  perfume  the  air,  and  the  charming  music 
of  the  feathered  tribe  delights  our  ears.  But  there 
is  a  contrast  in  music.  What  can  compare  with  that 
martial  band,  the  drum  and  fife,  bugle  horn  and 
shrill  trumpet,  which  set  the  war  horse  in  motion, 
thrill  through  every  fibre  of  the  human  frame,  still 
the  groans  of  the  dying  soldier,  and  stimulate  the 
living  to  the  noblest  deeds  of  glory  ?  The  full  roll 
of  the  drum,  which  salutes  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
the  animating  beat,  which  calls  to  arms  for  the  bat 
tle,  the  reveille,  which  breaks  our  slumbers  at  dawn 
of  day,  with  "  come,  strike  your  tents,  and  march 
away,"  and  the  evening  tattoo,  which  commands  to 
retirement  and  repose  ;  these  form  incomparably 


I 

MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  317 

the  most  enchanting  music  that  has  ever  vibrated  on 
my  ear. 

23d. — The  army  is  now  concentrated  to  a  point 
in  this  place,  and  encamped  in  two  lines,  and  in  the 
same  regular  order  that  the  troops  usually  form  in  a 
line  of  battle,  occupying  a  very  large  extent  of  ground 
and  covering  fields  of  corn,  grain  and  meadows.  Our 
brigade  is  stationed  on  the  left  of  the  second  line. 
The  campaign  is  now  about  to  be  opened,  and  we 
expect  in  a  few  days  that  the  French  army  will  form 
a  junction  with  us  to  co-operate  with  our  troops. 

July  1st. — A  division  of  our  French  allies  are  on 
their  march  from  Rhode  Island,  to  unite  with  us  in 
the  service  of  the  campaign.  Great  preparations  are 
continually  making  for  some  important  operation,  and 
it  is  in  general  conjectured  that  the  object  of  the 
campaign  is  to  besiege  New  York.  We  are  ordered 
to  have  four  days'  provisions  cooked,  and  to  march 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  leaving  all  our  bag 
gage  behind,  except  a  single  blanket  to  each  man. 
It  is  remarkable  that  we  have  so  much  as  four  days' 
provisions  on  hand. 

5th. — The  reveille  beat  at  three  o'clock  on  the 
2d  instant,  when  we  marched  and  reached  Tarrytown 
in  the  evening:  the  weather  being  extremely  hot, 
the  troops  were  much  fatigued.  Halted  at  Tarry- 
town  about  two  hours,  and  then  proceeded,  marched 
all  night,  and  at  sunrise  arrived  within  two  miles  of 
the  enemy's  works  at  King's  bridge.  Having  halted 
about  two  hours,  a  firing  of  cannon  and  musketry 
was  heard  in  front,  and  we  were  informed  that  a 
party  of  our  troops  had  engaged  the  enemy,  and  we 
were  ordered  to  advance  rapidly  to  their  assistance ; 
but  before  we  could  reach  the  scene  of  action,  the 
enemy  had  retired  within  their  strong  works.  A 
detachment  of  continental  troops,  under  command 
of  Major  General  Lincoln,  went  down  the  North 
river  in  boats  in  the  night,  to  attack  the  enemy  by 
surprize,  or  to  draw  them  out  to  a  distance  from 


I 

318  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

their  works,  to  afford  an  opportunity  to  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief  to  engage  them  in  the  field,  but  this 
object  could  not  be  accomplished,  and  a  skirmish 
only  ensued,  in  which  both  parties  suffered  some  loss, 
and  General  Lincoln  brought  off  ten  prisoners.  We 
took  our  repose  for  the  night  in  the  open  field,  and 
our  tents  and  baggage  having  arrived  the  next  day, 
we  pitched  our  encampment  in  two  lines,  on  the 
most  advantageous  ground,  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
outposts  of  the  enemy.  The  French  army,  under 
General  Rochambeau,  have  arrived  and  encamped  at 
a  small  distance  on  the  left  of  the  Americans. 

The  French  legion  of  dragoons  and  infantry,  un 
der  command  of  the  Duke  de  Luzerne,  arrived  and 
took  their  station  near  our  encampment,  and  appear 
in  true  military  style ;  they  are  a  fine  looking  corps, 
full  of  military  ardor,  and  in  conjunction  with  Colo 
nel  Sheldon's  dragoons,  much  important  service  is  ex 
pected. 

7th, — Our  army  was  drawn  up  in  a  line  and  re 
viewed  by  General  Rochambeau,  commander  in  chief 
of  the  French  army,  with  his  Excellency  General 
Washington  and  other  general  officers. 

Wth. — Another  review  took  place  in  presence  of 
the  French  ambassador,  from  Philadelphia,  after 
which  the  French  army  passed  a  review  in  presence 
of  the  general  officers  of  both  armies. 

13/A. — Notwithstanding  the  active  bustle  which 
attends  our  present  situation,  I  received  an  invita 
tion  with  a  number  of  officers  of  our  regiment,  to 
dine  with  a  party  of  French  officers  in  their  camp. 
We  were  politely  received  under  an  elegant  marquee, 
our  entertainment  consisted  of  excellent  soup,  roast 
beef,  &c.  served  in  French  style.  The  gentlemen 
appear  desirous  of  cultivating  an  acquaintance  with 
our  officers,  but  being  ignorant  of  each  others'  lan- 

fuage,  we  can  enjoy  but  little  conversation.     The 
rench   army    exhibit    their   martial    array  to   the 
greatest  advantage.     In  the  officers  we  recognize  the 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1781.  319 

accomplished  gentlemen,  free  and  affable  in  their 
manners.  Their  military  dress  and  side  arms  are 
elegant,  the  troops  are  under  the  strictest  discipline, 
and  are  amply  provided  with  arms  and  accoutrements, 
which  are  kept  in  the  neatest  order ;  they  are  in 
complete  uniform,  coats  of  white  broadcloth,  trim 
med  with  green,  and  white  underdress,  and  on  their 
heads  they  wear  a  singular  kind  of  hat  or  chapeau. 
It  is  unlike  our  cocked  hats  in  having  but  two  corners 
instead  of  three,  which  gives  them  a  very  novel 
appearance.  It  has  been  remarked  to  their  honor, 
that  during  their  march  from  Newport  to  join  our 
army,  their  course  has  been  marked  with  the  most 
exemplary  order  and  regularity,  committing  no  de 
predations,  but  conducting  towards  the  inhabitants 
on  their  route,  with  great  civility  and  propriety. 
We  now  greet  them  as  friends  and  allies,  and  they 
manifest  a  zealous  determination  to  act  in  unison  with 
us  against  the  common  enemy.  This  conduct  must 
have  a  happy  tendency  to  eradicate  from  the  minds 
of  the  Americans  their  ancient  prejudices  against 
the  French  people.  They  punctually  paid  their  ex 
penses  in  hard  money,  which  made  them  acceptable 
guests  wherever  they  passed,  and  in  fact,  the  large 
quantity  of  solid  coin,  which  they  brought  into  the 
United  States,  is  to  be  considered  as  of  infinite  im 
portance  at  the  present  period  of  our  affairs. 

15th. — Two  of  the  British  frigates,  and  several 
smaller  vessels,  passed  up  the  North  river  as  far  as 
Tarrytown,  in  defiance  of  our  cannon,  which  were 
continually  playing  on  them.  Their  object  appears 
to  be,  to  seize  some  of  our  small  vessels  which  are 
passing  down  the  river  with  supplies  for  our  army. 
One  small  sloop,  loaded  with  bread  for  the  French 
army,  has  fallen  into  their  hands. 

17th.- — A  fine  corps  of  light  infantry,  selected  from 
the  several  New  England  regiments,  is  now  formed 
and  put  under  the  immediate  command  of  Colonel 
Alexander  Scammel,  formerly  our  adjutant  general. 


320  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

This  select  corps,  consisting  of  the  most  active  and 
soldierly  young  men  and  officers,  is  intended  to  march 
in  advance  of  the  main  army,  constantly  prepared 
for  active  and  hazardous  service.  Colonel  Scammel 
was  indulged  the  liberty  of  choosing  his  own  officers, 
rejecting  those  whom  he  deemed  unfit  for  his  enter- 
prizing  purpose.  According  to  regular  detail  it  fell 
to  the  lot  of  Dr.  C.  to  act  as  surgeon  to  this  corps, 
but  it  was  the  doctor's  misfortune  to  have  one  blink 
eye,  and  not  being  perfectly  active,  Colonel  Scammel 
objected  to  him,  and  desired  that  he  might  be  ex 
changed  for  one  more  competent  to  the  duties  of  the 
service.  In  consequence  of  this,  I  received  a  billet 
from  Dr.  James  Craig,  chief  physician  and  surgeon 
to  the  army,  requesting  me  to  repair  to  the  detach 
ment  immediately,  and  take  the  place  of  Dr.  C.  Colo 
nel  Jackson,  unwilling  to  have  his  regiment  left  des 
titute  of  a  surgeon,  strongly  protested  against  it,  but 
Colonel  Scammel  was  strenuous,  and  finally  prevailed, 
and  I  now  enjoy  the  honor  of  officiating  as  surgeon 
to  a  fine  corps  of  infantry,  commanded  by  an  officer 
of  the  first  military  reputation.  Dr.  Munson,  of  the 
Connecticut  line,  is  my  mate,  and  the  medical  duties 
of  Colonel  Jackson's  regiment  devolves  on  Dr.  Francis 
Le  Baron  Goodwin,  surgeon's  mate,  during  my  ab 
sence. 

19th. — The  British  frigates,  that  passed  up  the 
North  river  a  few  days  since,  took  the  advantage  of 
wind  and  tide  to  return  to  New  York.  A  severe  can 
nonade  commenced  from  our  battery  at  Dobb's  ferry, 
where  the  river  is  about  three  miles  wide,  they  were 
compelled  literally  to  run  the  gantlet.  They  return 
ed  the  fire  as  they  passed,  but  without  effect.  On 
board  the  Savage,  ship  of  war,  a  box  of  powder  took 
fire,  and  such  was  their  consternation,  that  twenty  peo 
ple  jumped  into  the  river,  among  whom  was  a  prisoner 
on  board,  who  informs  us  that  he  was  the  only  man, 
who  got  on  shore,  all  the  others  being  drowned.  He 
reports  also,  that  the  Savage  was  several  times  hulled 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  321 

by  our  shot,  and  was  very  near  sinking.  In  the  even 
ing  of  the  21st,  our  army  and  the  French  were  put 
in  motion,  marching  with  great  rapidity  through  a 
thick  unfrequented  wood  and  swamps,  and  through 
fields  of  corn  and  wheat.  Passing  through  a  swamp 
in  the  night,  our  rear  guard,  with  myself  and  Dr. 
Munson,  lost  sight  of  the  main  body  of  the  army  for 
more  than  an  hour,  and  I  got  a  severe  fall  from  my 
horse.  In  the  morning,  we  arrived  near  the  enemy's 
post  at  Morrissania,  but  they  had  taken  the  alarm, 
and  escaped  to  New  York.  Having  continued  there 
during  the  day,  we  retired  in  the  evening  about  five 
or  six  miles,  and  lay  on  the  hills  near  King's  bridge, 
where  we  remained  unmolested  till  the  night  of  the 
23d,  when  we  returned  to  our  encampment.  While 
near  the  enemy's  lines,  the  army  was  drawn  up  in  a 
line  of  battle,  and  General  Washington,  General  Ro- 
chambeau,  and  all  the  general  officers  and  engineers, 
were  employed  in  reconnoitering  the  different  posi 
tions  of  the  enemy's  works  in  all  directions.  The 
position  which  we  now  occupy  is  the  neutral  ground 
between  the  lines,  a  beautiful  fertile  country,  and  the 
roads  and  commons  as  well  as  the  enclosures  are  loaded 
with  grass,  while  the  deserted  houses  in  ruins,  and  the 
prostrate  fences,  exhibit  the  melancholy  devastation 
of  war. 

3lst. — Our  detachment,  under  Colonel  Scammel, 
marched  last  evening  down  to  Phillips'  house,  near 
the  enemy's  works,  on  a  foraging  expedition.  After 
our  wagons  were  loaded,  we  retired  into  the  woods 
and  lay  in  ambush,  with  the  hope  that  the  enemy 
would  give  us  an  opportunity  to  engage  them,  but 
they  did  not  make  their  appearance. 

Jlugust  I3t/i. — A  most  tremendous  storm  of  rain 
came  on  last  night,  and  continued  almost  incessantly ; 
about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  sudden  gust  rent 
our  tents  asunder  and  whirled  them  about  our  ears, 
leaving  us  destitute  of  shelter,  and  most  thoroughly 
drenched. 

41 


322  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

15 th. — A  French  soldier,  who  deserted,  and  was 
taken  on  his  way  to  the  enemy,  was  shot  in  the  French 
camp. 

General  orders  are  now  issued  for  the  army  to  pre 
pare  for  a  movement  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  real 
object  of  the  allied  armies  the  present  campaign,  has 
become  a  subject  of  much  speculation.  Ostensibly 
an  investment  of  the  city  of  New  York  is  in  contem 
plation — preparations  in  all  quarters  for  some  months 
past,  indicate  this  to  be  the  object  of  our  combined 
operations.  The  capture  of  this  place,  would  be  a 
decisive  stroke,  and  from  the  moment  such  event 
takes  place,  the  English  must  renounce  all  hopes  of 
subjugating  the  United  States.  But  New  York  is 
well  fortified  both  by  land  and  water,  and  garrisoned 
by  the  best  troops  of  Great  Britain.  The  success  of 
a  siege  must  depend  entirely  on  the  arrival  and  co 
operation  of  a  superior  French  fleet.  The  enemy 
have  a  garrison  on  Staten  Island,  which  is  separated 
from  Long  Island  only  by  a  strait  of  two  miles  wide. 
The  capture  of  this  garrison  would  be  a  brilliant 
affair,  and  would  essentially  facilitate  our  operations 
against  New  York.  General  Washington  and  Count 
Rochambeau  have  crossed  the  North  river,  and  it  is 
supposed  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitering  the  ene 
my's  posts  from  the  Jersey  shore.  Afield  for  an  exten 
sive  encampment  has  been  marked  out  on  the  Jersey 
side,  and  a  number  of  ovens  have  been  erected  and 
fuel  provided  for  the  purpose  of  baking  bread  for 
the  army.  From  these  combined  circumstances  we 
are  led  to  conclude,  that  a  part  of  our  besieging 
force  is  to  occupy  that  ground.  But  General  Wash 
ington  possesses  a  capacious  mind,  full  of  resources, 
and  he  resolves  and  matures  his  great  plans  and  de 
signs  under  an  impenetrable  veil  of  secrecy,  and  while 
we  repose  the  fullest  confidence  in  our  chief,  our  own 
opinions  must  be  founded  only  on  doubtful  conjec 
tures.  The  royal  army  at  New  York,  have  received 
a  reinforcement  of  three  thousand  Germans  from 
Europe. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781.  323 

20th.— According  to  orders,  we  commenced  our  line 
of  march  yesterday,  a  party  of  pioneers  being  sent 
forward  to  clear  the  road  towards  King's  bridge,  and 
we  expected  immediately  to  follow  in  that  direction ; 
but  an  army  is  a  machine,  whose  motions  are  directed 
by  its  chief.  When  the  troops  were  paraded  for  the 
inarch,  they  were  ordered  to  face  to  the  right  about, 
and  making  a  retrogade  movement  up  the  side  of  the 
North  river,  we  have  reached  King's  ferry,  and  are 
preparing  to  cross  the  Hudson  at  this  ferry.  Our 
allies  are  in  our  rear,  and  it  is  probable  we  are  des 
tined  to  occupy  the  ground  on  the  Jersey  side. 

3lst. — Colonel  Laurens  has  arrived  at  head  quar 
ters  on  his  way  from  Boston  to  Philadelphia.  This 
gentleman  is  the  son  of  Mr.  Henry  Laurens,  our  am 
bassador  to  Holland,  who  is  now  confined  in  the 
tower  of  London.  We  have  the  pleasing  informa 
tion,  that  he  has  brought  with  him  from  France,  a 
large  sum  of  specie  for  the  United  States.  He  re 
ports  that  the  different  powers  of  continental  Europe 
are  friendly  to  the  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged. 

Our  situation  reminds  me  of  some  theatrical  exhi 
bition  where  the  interest  and  expectations  of  the 
spectators  are  continually  increasing,  and  where  curio 
sity  is  wrought  to  the  highest  point.  Our  destina 
tion  has  been  for  some  time  matter  of  perplexing 
doubt  and  uncertainty ;  bets  have  run  high  on  one 
side,  that  we  were  to  occupy  the  ground  marked  out 
on  the  Jersey  shore,  to  aid  in  the  siege  of  New  York, 
and  on  the  other,  that  we  are  stealing  a  march  on 
the  enemy,  and  are  actually  destined  to  Virginia,  in 
pursuit  of  the  army  under  Lord  Cornwallis.  We 
crossed  at  King's  ferry,  21st  instant,  and  encamped  at 
Haverstraw.  A  number  of  batteaux,  mounted  on 
carriages,  have  followed  in  our  train,  supposed  for 
the  purpose  of  conveying  the  troops  over  to  Staten 
Island.  22d.  Resumed  our  line  of  march,  passing 
rapidly  through  Paramus,  Acquackanack,  Spring 
field  and  Princeton.  We  have  now  passed  all  the 


324  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

enemy's   posts,    and   are  pursuing    our  route   with 
increased    rapidity    towaids    Philadelphia  ;    wagons 
have  been   prepared    to    carry  the  soldiers'   packs, 
that  they  may  press  forward  with   greater  facility. 
Our  destination  can  no  longer  he  a  secret.      The 
British  army,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  is  unquestion 
ably  the  object  of  our  present  expedition.     It  is  now 
rumored  that  a  French  fleet  may  soon  be   expect 
ed  to  arrive  in  Chesapeake  bay,  to  co-operate  with 
the  allied  army  in   that  quarter.     The  great  secret 
respecting  our  late  preparations  and  movements  can 
now  be  explained.     It  was  a  judiciously  concerted 
stratagem,  calculated  to  menace  and  alarm  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  for  the  safety  of  the  garrison  of  New  York, 
and  induce  him  to  recall  a  part  of  his  troops  from 
Virginia,    for   his  own  defence ;    or  perhaps  keep 
ing  an  eye  on  the  city,  to  attempt  its  capture,  pro 
vided  that  by  the  arrival  of  a  French  fleet,  favorable 
circumstances  should  present     The   deception    has 
proved  completely  successful,  a  part  of  Cornwallis' 
troops  are  reported  to  have  returned  to  New  York. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington,    having   suc 
ceeded  in  a  masterly  piece  of  generalship,  has  now 
the  satisfaction  of  leaving  his  adversary  to  ruminate 
on  his  own  mortifying  situation,  and  to  anticipate  the 
perilous  fate  which  awaits  his  friend,  Lord  Cornwallis, 
in  a  different  quarter.     Major  General  Heath  is  left 
commander  in  chief  of  our  army  in  the  vicinity  of 
New  York  and  the  highlands,  and  the  menacing  as 
pect  of  an  attack  on  New  York,  will  be  continued 
till  time  and  circumstances  shall  remove  the  delusive 
veil  from  the  eyes  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  when  it  will 
probably  be  too  late  to  afford  succour  to  Lord  Corn 
wallis.     To  our  officers,  the  inactivity  of  the  royal 
army  in   New  York,  is  truly  unaccountable — they 
might  without  risking  a  great  deal,  harass  our  army 
on  its  march,  and  subject  us  to  irreparable  injury ; 
but   the    royalists   are   more    dexterous   in  availing 
themselves   of  treachery  and  insurrection,    than  in 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  325 

e  flee  ting  valorous  achievements.  In  passing  through 
Princeton,  but  little  time  was  allowed  me  to  visit 
the  college.  This  once  celebrated  seminary  is  now 
destitute  of  students,  and  the  business  of  education 
is  entirely  suspended  in  consequence  of  the  constant 
bustle  and  vicissitudes  of  war.  The  little  village  of 
Princeton  is  beautifully  situated,  and  the  college 
edifice  is  of  stone,  four  stories  high,  and  lighted  by 
twenty  five  windows  in  front,  in  each  story.  It  has 
suffered  considerable  injury  in  being  occupied  alter 
nately  by  the  soldiers  of  the  two  contending  armies. 
Trenton,  where  we  are  now  encamped  for  the  night, 
is  a  much  more  considerable  village,  and  more  ad 
vantageously  situated,  on  the  north  eastern  bank  of 
the  Delaware,  twenty  seven  miles  above  Philadel 
phia.  This  is  the  town  which  General  Washington 
has  rendered  famous  to  the  latest  times,  by  a  victory 
in  which  he  so  happily  displayed  the  resources  of  his 
genius,  in  the  severe  winter  of  1776.  Great  indeed 
must  be  the  resources  of  that  man  who  can  render 
himself  the  most  formidable  to  an  enemy,  when  ap 
parently  he  is  the  most  destitute  of  power.  General 
Washington  and  Count  Rochambeau  having  proceed 
ed  to  Virginia  by  land,  Major  General  Lincoln  takes 
the  command  of  our  troops,  and  the  Baron  de  Vio- 
menil,  those  of  the  French. 

September  8th. — We  crossed  the  Delaware  river 
at  Trenton  ferry,  on  the  1st  instant,  and  in  the  after 
noon  crossed  a  small  river  at  Shammany's  rope  ferry. 
Our  boats  were  pulled  across  with  facility  by  a  rope 
made  fast  at  each  shore.  We  marched  nineteen 
miles,  and  encamped  at  a  place  called  Lower  Dublin. 
2d.  In  the  afternoon,  marched  through  the  city  of 
Philadelphia.  The  streets  being  extremely  dirty 
and  the  weather  warm  and  dry,  we  raised  a  dust  like 
a  smothering  snow  storm,  blinding  our  eyes  and  cover 
ing  our  bodies  with  it ;  this  was  not  a  little  mortify 
ing  as  the  ladies  were  viewing  us  from  the  open 
windows  of  every  house  as  we  passed  through  this 


526  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

splendid  city.  The  scene  must  have  been  exceed 
ingly  interesting  to  the  inhabitants,  and  contem 
plating  the  noble  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged, 
they  must  have  experienced  in  their  hearts  a  glow 
of  patriotism,  if  not  emotions  of  military  ardor.  Our 
line  of  march,  including  appendages  and  attendants, 
extended  nearly  two  miles.  The  general  officers 
and  their  aids,  in  rich  military  uniform,  mounted  on 
noble  steeds  elegantly  caparisoned,  were  followed  by 
their  servants  and  baggage.  In  the  rear  of  every 
brigade  were  several  field  pieces,  accompanied  by 
ammunition  carriages.  The  soldiers  inarched  in  slow 
and  solemn  step,  regulated  by  the  drum  and  fife. 
In  the  rear  followed  a  great  number  of  wagons  load 
ed  with  tents,  provisions  and  other  baggage,  such  as 
a  few  soldiers'  wives  and  children  ;  though  a  very 
small  number  of  these  are  allowed  to  encumber  us  on 
this  occasion.  The  day  following,  the  French  troops 
marched  through  the  city,  dressed  in  complete  uniform 
of  white  broadcloth,  faced  with  green,  and  besides  the 
drum  and  fife,  they  were  furnished  with  a  complete 
band  of  music,  which  operates  like  enchantment.* 

*  The  following  is  extracted  from  letters  published  by  a  French 
clergyman,  in  Count  llochambeau's  army. 

u  The  arrival  of  the  French  army  at  Philadelphia,  was  more  like  a 
triumph,  than  simply  a  passing  through  the  place ;  the  troops  made  a 
halt  about  a  quarter  of  a  league  from  the  city,  and  in  an  instant  were 
dressed  as  elegantly  as  ever  the  soldiers  of  a  garrison  were  on  a  day  of 
review  ;  they  then  marched  through  the  town,  with  the  military  music 
playing  before  them,  which  is  always  particularly  pleasing  to  the  Ame 
ricans  ;  the  streets  were  crowded  with  people,  and  the  ladies  appeared 
at  the  windows  in  their  most  brilliant  attire.  All  Philadelphia  was 
astonished  to  see  people  who  had  endured  the  fatigues  of  a  long  jour 
ney,  so  ruddy  and  handsome,  and  even  wondered  that  there  could  pos 
sibly  be  Frenchmen  of  so  genteel  an  appearance. 

u  The  troops  next  marched  in  single  file  before  the  Congress,  and 
M.  le  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  minister  from  the  court  of  France,  and 
afterwards  encamped  in  a  large  plain  contiguous  to  the  river  Schuylkill. 
The  next  day  after  our  arrival,  the  regiment  of  Soissonnais  went  through 
the  exercise  of  fire  arms ;  at  least  twenty  thousand  persons,  and  a 
vast  number  of  carriages,  remarkable  for  their  lightness  and  elegance, 
added  to  the  lustre  of  this  exhibition,  which  was  still  heightened  by  the 
pleasantness  of  the  situation,  and  the  remarkable  serenity  of  the  day. 
The  rapidity  of  the  military  evolutions,  the  soldierly  appearance  of 
the  troops  in  general,  and  the  exactness  of  their  motions,  surprized  and 
enraptured  the  beholders. 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781.  327 

3<f. — \Ve  crossed  the  river  Schuylkill,  over  a  float 
ing  bridge,  and  encamped  four  miles  from  Philadel- 

u  We  were  a  good  deal  amused  with  a  mistake  of  some  of  the  com 
mon  people,  who  took  for  a  general,  one  of  those  alert  fellows,  whom 
our  commanding  officers  commonly  have  in  their  retinue  to  run  up  and 
down  to  carry  their  written  orders.  His  short,  tight  bodied  coat,  his 
rich  waistcoat,  with  a  silver  fringe,  his  rose  colored  shoes,  his  cap,  adorn 
ed  with  a  coat  of  arms,  and  his  cane,  with  an  enormous  head — all  ap 
peared  to  them  so  many  tokens  of  extraordinary  dignity.  Though  he 
approached  his  master,  the  colonel  commandant,  merely  to  receive  and 
publish  his  orders,  they  imagined  that  he  gave  them  of  his  own  accord, 
and  directed  the  movements  of  the  troops,  independently  of  any 
superior. 

"  The  President  of  Congress,  the  Honorable  Thomas  M'Kean,  Es 
quire,  in  a  suit  of  black  velvet,  honored  this  review  with  his  presence. 
These  honest  Pennsylvanians  differ  very  considerably  from  us  in  the 
ceremonies  of  dress,  as  we  differ  from  them  again  in  our  modes  of  legis 
lation. 

u  The  manreuvres  of  our  troops  raised  the  most  flattering  expecta 
tions  in  the  minds  of  the  spectators  ;  and  they  did  not  hesitate  to  de 
clare,  that  such  soldiers  were  invincible. 

u  This  day  was  destined  for  favorable  omens.  M.  le  Chevalier  de  la 
Luzerne,  who  on  this  occasion,  received  his  countrymen  with  the  dig 
nity  and  generosity  of  the  representative  of  a  great  monarch,  and  the 
frankness  and  cordiality  of  an  individual,  after  the  review,  invited  all 
the  officers  to  dine  with  him.  Hardly  were  we  seated  at  the  table, 
when  an  express  arrived  ;  a  disquieting  silence  immediately  seized  every 
guest — our  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne,  every  one 
endeavoring  to  guess  what  the  message  would  turn  out  to  be — u  Thirty 
six  ships  of  the  line,""  said  he,  u  commanded  by  Monsieur  le  Comte  de 
Grasse,  are  arrived  in  Chesapeake  bay,  and  three  thousand  men  have 
landed  and  opened  a  communication  with  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette.n 
Joy  and  good  humor,  immediately  resumed  their  place  on  every  coun 
tenance.  Our  impatient  leaders  began  to  count  the  days,  and  reckon 
how  long  it  would  be  before  they  could  have  it  in  their  power  to  face 
the  enemy,  and  their  heated  imaginations  made  the  time  much  shorter 
than  it  afterwards  proved  to  be.  Healths  were  next  drank  ;  and  that 
of  the  minister  of  the  marine  of  France  was  not  forgotten,  whose 
activity  and  great  abilities  have  paved  the  way  to  the  most  brilliant  suc 
cesses  of  our  fleet;  the  presence  of  his  son,  M.  le  Comte  de  Chartre, 
second  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Saintonge,  added  still  more  to  our 
pleasure  and  satisfaction. 

u  Among  others,  Charles  Thomson,  the  Secretary  of  Congress,  the 
soul  of  that  political  body,  came  also  to  receive  and  present  his  com 
pliments.  His  meagre  figure,  furrowed  countenance,  his  hollow 
sparkling  eyes,  his  white  strait  hair,  that  did  not  hang  quite  so  low  as 
his  ears,  fixed  our  thorough  attention,  and  filled  us  with  surprize  and 
admiration. 

"  The  important  news  of  the  arrival  of  Count  de  Grasse,  was  soon 
spread  throughout  the  city,  and  echoes  of  joy  were  heard  from  every  quar 
ter  ;  some  merry  fellows  mounted  on  scaffolds  and  stages,  pronounced 
funeral  orations  for  Cornwallis,  and  uttered  lamentations  on  the  grief 
and  distress  of  the  tories.  The  people  ran  in  crowds  to  the  residence 


328  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

phia,  where  we  continued  through  the  day,  to  give 
the  men  time  to  rest  and  wash  their  clothes.  4th. 
Marched  through  Wilmington,  eighteen  miles.  This 
is  a  handsome  flourishing  village,  situated  on  the 
Delaware  river,  on  a  small  branch  of  which  is  erected 
eight  very  large  and  valuable  stone  mills,  where  an 
immense  quantity  of  wheat  is  ground  and  bolted. 
The  wheat  is  brought  in  vessels  to  the  very  door, 
and  the  flour  taken  off  in  return.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Smith,  minister  of  this  place,  and  Dr.  Smith,  his 
brother,  politely  introduced  themselves  to  me,  and  I 
took  tea  and  spent  the  evening  at  Dr.  Smith's,  in 
social  friendship.  Marched  again  on  the  5th,  and  on 
the  6th  arrived  at  the  head  of  Elk  river,  Maryland, 
in  the  morning,  having  completed  a  march  of  two 
hundred  miles  in  fifteen  days. 

An  express  has  now  arrived  from  Virginia,  with 
the  pleasing  intelligence  that  the  Count  de  Grasse 
has  actually  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake 
bay,  with  a  fleet  of  thirty  six  ships  of  the  line,  and 
three  thousand  land  forces,  which  are  landed  and 
have  joined  our  troops  under  the  Marquis  de  la  Fay- 
ette,  in  Virginia. 

The  royal  army,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  has  taken 
post  in  Yorktown,  situated  on  York  river,  in  Virginia, 
where  he  has  constructed  strong  fortifications  for  his 
defence ;  but  his  communication  by  water  is  now  en 
tirely  cut  off  by  several  French  ships  stationed  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  Preparation  is  constantly  mak 
ing  for  our  troops  and  our  allies  who  have  arrived 
here,  to  embark  at  the  head  of  Elk  river,  whence  we 
shall  proceed  down  the  Chesapeake  bay  to  Yorktown, 
in  pursuit  of  the  object  of  our  expedition.  About 

of  the  minister  of  France  ;  and  Long  live  Louis  the  Sixteenth,  was  the 
general  cry. 

"  Thus  you  see  the  people  are  universally  persuaded  of  the  success 
of  this  expedition.  Could  these  flattering  hopes  be  realized,  they  would 
hasten  a  peace,  which  in  our  situation,  and  under  the  wise  and  benevo 
lent  prince  that  governs  as,  would  place  France  in  a  point  of  view  that 
•has  been  wholly  unknown  since  the  existence  of  her  monarchy." 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  329 

eighty  vessels  are  in  readiness,  great  activity  prevails, 
embarkation  has  commenced  and  our  horses  are  sent 
round  to  Virginia  by  land.  It  falls  to  my  lot  to  take 
passage  on  board  a  small  schooner,  with  four  other 
officers  and  sixty  men.  She  is  so  deeply  laden  with 
cannon,  mortars  and  other  ordnance,  that  our  situation 
will  be  attended  with  considerable  danger,  if  rough 
weather  should  overtake  us. 

11  th. — Sailed  at  four  o'clock,  P.  M.  on  board  the 
schooner  Glasco,  beat  against  contrary  wind  down  the 
Elk  river,  and  at  sun  rise  next  morning,  entered  the 
head  of  the  great  Chesapeake  bay,  eighteen  miles 
from  the  place  of  embarkation.  The  bay  at  its  en 
trance,  is  six  or  seven  miles  wide,  and  has  two  rivers 
which  empty  into  it  on  the  west  side — the  Northeast 
river  and  the  great  Susquehannah,  which  takes  its 
origin  at  lake  Otsego,  six  hundred  miles  from  this 
bay.  Another  river  called  Sassafras,  which  empties 
into  the  bay  on  the  east  side,  is  navigable  to  George 
town,  twelve  miles.  Pool's  Island  affords  a  romantic 
prospect,  being  about  two  miles  long,  and  three  quar 
ters  of  a  mile  wide,  supporting  two  families.  About 
twelve  miles  further  down,  the  bay  widens  to  about 
ten  miles,  and  on  the  west  side  is  the  river  Patapsco, 
at  the  head  of  which  twelve  miles  from  its  mouth, 
stands  the  town  of  Baltimore,  which  admits  large  ships 
into  its  capacious  and  convenient  harbor.  Nearly 
opposite  to  this,  Chester  river  empties  into  the  bay 
on  the  eastern  shore,  and  is  navigable  fifty  miles. 

The  town  of  Annapolis,  the  metropolis  of  Mary 
land,  is  situated  on  the  western  shore  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river  Severn,  where  it  falls  into  the  bay.  We 
came  to  anchor  in  the  harbor  at  sun  setting,  and  I 
accompanied  several  officers  to  the  coffee  house,  and 
partook  of  a  handsome  supper.  A  very  severe  shower 
of  rain  with  high  winds  and  extreme  darkness,  oblig 
ed  us  to  spend  the  night  on  shore.  On  the  13th,  we 
returned  on  board  at  seven  o'clock,  and  proceeded 
on  our  voyage  before  a  fresh  gale,  but  had  not  sailed 
42 


330  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

more  than  four  miles,  when  we  were  recalled  by  ex 
press  to  the  harbor  of  Annapolis.  This  is  in  con 
sequence  of  intelligence  of  a  naval  action  between 
the  British  and  French  fleets  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Chesapeake  bay.  Our  safety  requires  that  we  should 
remain  in  port  till  the  event  of  the  battle  is  known. 
Should  the  British  have  obtained  the  victory,  and 
should  they  get  possession  of  the  Chesapeake  bay, 
we  shall  be  unable  to  proceed  on  our  voyage,  and 
our  expedition  will  be  entirely  defeated.  Annapolis 
is  a  very  inconsiderable  city,  but  the  buildings  are 
chiefly  of  brick  and  many  of  them  are  in  a  style  of 
elegance  and  grandeur.  The  state  house,  in  the 
centre  of  the  city,  is  a  most  splendid  and  magnificent 
piece  of  architecture  ;  it  is  topped  with  a  handsome 
dome ;  the  several  apartments  are  finished  in  a  style 
surpassing  every  thing  which  I  have  before  witnessed. 
The  archives  for  the  security  of  the  public  records 
are  fire  proof.  It  is  remarkable  that  there  is  not  a 
church  in  the  city,  though  they  have  an  ordinary 
building  which  they  occupy  for  a  theatre.  We  were 
treated  with  much  politeness  and  hospitality,  and  re 
ceived  an  invitation  to  dine  at  the  house  of  a  respect 
able  gentleman.  In  the  evening  we  attended  the 
theatre,  and  were  entertained  by  a  Mr.  Wall,  who 
exhibited  Stephens'  lecture  on  heads,  greatly  to  the 
amusement  of  the  audience,  after  which  Mrs.  Wall 
exhibited  a  variety  of  amusing  scenes,  and  her  little 
daughter  of  seven  years  of  age,  spoke  an  epilogue, 
and  sung  several  songs  to  the  admiration  of  all  pre 
sent. 

Information  has  just  reached  us  that  after  General 
Arnold  had  returned  from  his  depredating  expedi 
tion  to  Virginia,  he  was  despatched  on  a  new  incur 
sion  to  Connecticut,  his  native  state.  His  force  con 
sisted  of  two  thousand  infantry  and  three  hundred 
cavalry,  accompanied  by  forty  sail  of  ships  and  trans 
ports.  He  landed  his  troops  at  the  mouth  of  New 
London  harbor,  and  proceeded  to  the  town.  Fort 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  331 

Trumbull  not  being  tenable,  was  soon  evacuated  by  our 
people,  but  fort  Griswold  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river  was  courageously  defended  by  Colonel  Ledyard, 
and  a  few  militia  men  hastily  collected.  The  assault 
on  this  fort  was  made  by  Colonel  Eyre,  who  was  three 
or  four  times  repulsed,  and  finally  received  himself 
a  mortal  wound,  and  Major  Montgomery  being  kill 
ed,  the  command  devolved  on  Major  Bromfield,  who 
by  a  superior  force  and  much  resolution,  carried  the 
place  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  On  entering  the  fort 
the  British  officer  inquiring  who  commanded  ?  Colo 
nel  Ledyard  answered,  "I  did,  Sir,  but  you  do  now,'7 
and  presented  him  his  sword  as  a  prisoner,  when  the 
British  officer  plunged  his  sword  into  the  body  of 
Colonel  Ledyard,  and  several  soldiers  assisted  with 
their  bayonets  in  despatching  him.  An  indiscrim 
inate  slaughter  by  the  bayonet  of  those  who  had  sur 
rendered  immediately  ensued,  and  seventy  three 
men  were  left  dead  in  the  fort,  about  forty  wounded, 
and  the  same  number  taken  prisoners.  Arnold  con 
tinued  on  the  New  London  side  suffering  the  town 
to  be  plundered,  and  by  a  conflagration,  sixty  dwell 
ing  houses  and  eighty  four  stores  were  entirely  de 
stroyed.  The  loss  which  we  sustained  was  very 
considerable,  consisting  of  vessels,  naval  stores,  Eu 
ropean  goods,  provisions,  &c.  and  not  less  than  one 
hundred  inhabitants  were  deprived  of  their  habita 
tions  and  all  their  property.  The  militia  collect 
ed  and  conducted  with  great  spirit  and  alacrity  in 
avenging  the  murder  of  their  friends,  and  they  hast 
ened  the  retreat  of  the  enemy,  after  the  loss  of 
two  officers  and  forty  six  rank  and  file  killed,  and 
eight  officers  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  five  rank 
and  file  wounded.  It  is  reported  that  a  wagon  load 
ed  with  their  wounded  soldiers,  was  put  in  motion 
from  the  top  of  a  long  and  steep  hill,  which  in  its 
rapid  course  struck  an  apple  tree  with  such  force 
that  the  faint  and  bleeding  men  received  a  shock 
which  killed  a  part  of  them  instantly.  It  is  highly 


332  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

probable  that  Sir  Henry  Clinton  projected  this  expe 
dition  to  Connecticut,  in  the  hope  of  diverting  Gen 
eral  Washington  from  his  enterprize  against  Earl 
Cornwallis ;  but  this  manoeuvre  will  not  effect  his 
object. 

15th. — The  gratifying  intelligence  is  announced 
that  the  naval  engagement  between  the  two  fleets, 
has  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  British  with  consid 
erable  loss,  and  the  French  have  now  the  sole  com 
mand  of  the  Chesapeake  bay.  This  event  is  of  in 
finite  importance,  and  fills  our  hearts  with  joy,  as  we 
can  now  proceed  on  our  expedition. 

16th. — We  obeyed  the  signal  for  sailing,  and  pass 
ed  Sharp's  Island,  which  is  situated  in  the  middle  of 
the  bay,  two  miles  long  and  one  wide ;  it  supports 
four  families.  Sent  one  boat  on  shore  and  procured 
some  poultry  and  fruit.  18th,  Passed  the  great 
Potomac,  which  divides  the  states  of  Maryland  and 
Virginia.  At  its  mouth  it  is  about  fifteen  miles 
wide,  it  is  navigable  for  large  ships,  up  to  George 
town,  which  is  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles  dis 
tant,  on  the  Maryland  shore,  while  the  city  of 
Alexandria  is  situated  a  few  miles  below  it  on  the 
Virginia  shore.  The  bay  at  this  place  is  about  thirty 
miles  wide.  The  wind  this  afternoon  has  blown  with 
all  the  violence  of  a  gale,  the  bow  of  our  vessel,  in 
ploughing  through  the  billows,  is  frequently  brought 
under  water,  which  keeps  us  in  perpetual  alarm. 
We  passed  York  river  on  the  western  or  Virginia 
shore,  fifteen  miles  from  the  mouth  of  which  stands 
Yorktown,  where  the  royal  army  under  Lord  Corn 
wallis  is  posted,  and  which  it  is  the  object  of  our 
expedition  to  capture.  He  is  completely  blockaded 
by  three  French  ships  of  the  line  and  several  smaller 
armed  vessels  lying  at  the  mouth  of  York  river. 
20th,  Passed  Hampton  road,  and  entered  James 
river,  which  is  at  its  entrance  about  five  miles  wide. 
We  enjoyed  a  distant  view  of  the  grand  French  fleet 
riding  at  anchor  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake, 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781.  333 

consisting  of  thirty  six  ships  of  war,  besides  frigates 
and  other  armed  vessels.  This  was  the  most  noble 
and  majestic  spectacle  I  ever  witnessed,  and  we  view 
ed  it  with  inexpressible  pleasure,  and  the  warmest 
gratitude  was  excited  in  every  breast  towards  our 
great  ally. 

22d. — Reached  the  harbor  between  Jamestown 
and  Williamsburg,  where  the  greater  part  of  our 
transports  arrived  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  the 
troops  disembarked  and  encamped  on  the  banks  of 
the  river,  within  twelve  miles  of  Yorktown.  We 
now  congratulated  ourselves  on  baving  completed  our 
voyage  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  which,  on 
account  of  contrary  winds  and  detention  at  Annapo 
lis,  has  occupied  twelve  days ;  vessels  with  troops 
are  arriving  every  day.  Jamestown  is  the  place 
where  the  English  first  established  themselves  in  Vir 
ginia,  in  1607.  Though  the  most  ancient  settlement 
in  America,  it  cannot  now  be  called  a  town,  there 
being  but  two  houses  standing  on  the  banks  of  the 
river.  25th,  Marched  from  the  landing  place  through 
the  city  of  Williamsburg.  This  is  the  capital  of 
Virginia,  but  in  other  respects  is  of  little  importance. 
It  is  situated  on  a  level  piece  of  land,  at  an  equal  dis 
tance  between  two  small  rivers,  one  of  which  falls 
into  York,  the  other  into  James  river.  The  city 
is  one  mile  and  a  quarter  in  length,  and  contains 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  houses.  The  main 
street  is  more  than  one  hundred  feet  in  width,  and 
exactly  one  mile  in  length — at  one  of  the  extremi 
ties,  and  fronting  the  street,  is  the  capitol,  or  state 
house,  a  handsome  edifice,  and  at  the  other  end  is 
the  college,  capable  of  accommodating  three  hun 
dred  students,  but  the  tumult  of  war  has  broken  up 
the  institution.  The  college  is  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty  feet  in  length  and  forty  in  breadth,  with 
two  handsome  wings  fifty  by  thirty.  Their  library 
is  said  to  consist  of  about  three  thousand  volumes. 
Near  the  centre  of  the  city  is  a  large  church,  and 


334  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

not  far  from  it  the  palace,  the  usual  residence  of  the 
governor,  which  is  a  splendid  building.  The  water 
in  this  vicinity  is  extremely  brackish  and  disagreea 
ble.  This  part  of  the  state  of  Virginia  is  celebrated 
for  the  excellent  tobacco  which  it  produces,  and  this 
is  their  principal  staple  commodity,  though  the  cul 
ture  of  cotton  receives  some  attention.  Indian  corn, 
hemp  and  flax,  are  also  among  the  productions  of 
this  state.  The  population  of  Virginia  is  computed 
at  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  whites,  and  five 
hundred  thousand  negro  slaves.  The  labor,  there 
fore,  on  the  Virginia  plantations,  is  performed  alto 
gether  by  a  species  of  the  human  race,  who  have 
been  cruelly  wrested  from  their  native  country  and 
doomed  to  perpetual  bondage,  while  their  masters 
are  manfully  contending  for  freedom,  and  the  natural 
rights  of  man.  Such  is  the  inconsistency  of  human 
nature.  Should  Providence  ordain  that  the  Ameri 
cans  shall  be  emancipated  from  thraldom,  it  should 
in  gratitude  be  our  prayer,  that  the  African  slave 
may  be  permitted  to  participate  in  the  blessings  of 
freedom. 

27th. — We  arrived  at  Yorktown  yesterday  from 
Jamestown,  and  have  encamped  within  one  mile  of 
the  enemy's  line  of  redoubts. 

28th. — The  French  troops  have  arrived  and  en 
camped  on  our  left.  Yorktown  is  situated  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river,  about  fifteen  miles  from  its 
entrance  into  Chesapeake  bay.  In  this  little  village, 
Lord  Cornwallis,  with  about  seven  thousand  troops, 
has  taken  his  station,  and  is  endeavoring  to  fortify 
himself  against  the  impending  danger  of  our  combined 
operations.  His  communication  by  water  is  entirely 
cut  off  by  the  French  ships  of  war  stationed  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  preventing  both  his  escape  and 
receiving  succor  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New 
York.  The  allied  army  is  about  twelve  thousand 
strong,  exclusive  of  the  militia,  under  Governor 
Nelson.  The  Americans  form  the  right  and  the 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  335 

French  the  left  wing  of  the  combined  forces,  each 
extending  to  the  borders  of  the  river,  by  which  the 
besiegers  form  a  half  circle  round  the  town.  His 
Excellency  General  Washington  commands  in  per 
son,  and  is  assisted  by  Major  General  Lincoln,  Baron 
Steuben,  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  General  Knox, 
&c.  The  French  troops  are  commanded  by  General 
the  Count  Rochambeau,  a  brave  and  experienced 
officer,  having  under  him  a  number  of  officers  of 
distinguished  character.  Unbounded  confidence  is 
reposed  in  our  illustrious  commanders,  the  spirit  of 
emulation  and  military  ardor  universally  prevail,  and 
we  are  sanguine  in  our  expectations  that  a  surrender 
of  the  royal  army  must  be  his  Lordship's  fate. 

A  cannonade  commenced  yesterday  from  the  town, 
by  which  one  man  received  a  wound,  and  I  assisted  in 
amputating  his  leg.  30th,  We  were  agreeably  sur 
prized  this  morning,  to  find  that  the  enemy  had,  during 
the  preceding  night,  abandoned  three  or  four  of  their 
redoubts,  and  retired  within  the  town,  leaving  a  con 
siderable  extent  of  commanding  ground  which  might 
have  cost  us  much  labor  and  many  lives  to  obtain  by 
force.  Our  light  infantry  and  a  party  of  French  were 
ordered  to  advance  and  take  possession  of  the  aban 
doned  ground,  and  to  serve  as  a  covering  party  to 
our  troops  who  are  employed  in  throwing  up  breast 
works.  Considerable  cannonading  from  the  besieged 
in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  four  militia  men  were 
wounded  by  a  single  shot,  one  of  whom  died  soon 
after.  An  occurrence  has  just  been  announced  which 
fills  our  hearts  with  grief  and  sorrow.  Colonel  Alex 
ander  Scammel  being  officer  of  the  day,  while  re- 
connoitering  the  ground  which  the  enemy  had  aban 
doned,  was  surprized  by  a  party  of  their  horse,  and 
after  having  surrendered,  they  had  the  baseness  to 
inflict  a  wound  which  we  fear  will  prove  mortal ; 
they  have  carried  him  into  Yorktown. 

October  1st,  and  2d. — Our  troops  have  been  en 
gaged  in  throwing  up  two  redoubts  in  the  night  time : 


336  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

on  discovery,  the  enemy  commenced  a  furious  can 
nonade,  but  it  does  not  deter  our  men  from  going  on 
vigorously  with  their  work.  Heavy  cannon  and 
mortars  are  continually  arriving,  and  the  greatest 
preparations  are  made  to  prosecute  the  siege  in  the 
most  effectual  manner. 

3d,  and  4th. — A  considerable  cannonading  from 
the  enemy,  one  shot  killed  three  men,  and  mortally 
wounded  another.  While  the  Reverend  Mr.  Evans, 
our  chaplain,  was  standing  near  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  a  shot  struck  the  ground  so  near  as  to  cover 
his  hat  with  sand ;  being  much  agitated,  he  took  off  his 
hat  and  said,  "  see  here,  General."  "  Mr.  Evans," 
replied  his  Excellency,  with  his  usual  •  composure, 
i(  you  had  better  carry  that  home  and  show  it  to 
your  wife  and  children. "  Two  soldiers  from  the 
French,  and  one  from  us  deserted  to  the  enemy,  and 
two  British  soldiers  deserted  to  our  camp  the  same 
night.  The  enemy  from  the  want  of  forage  are  kill 
ing  off  their  horses  in  great  numbers ;  six  or  seven 
hundred  of  these  valuable  animals  have  been  killed, 
and  their  carcases  are  almost  continually  floating 
down  the  river.  The  British  are  in  possession  of  a 
place  called  Gloucester,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river,  nearly  opposite  Yorktown ;  their  force  con 
sists  of  one  British  regiment,  and  Colonel  Tarleton's 
legion  of  horse  and  infantry.  In  opposition  to  this 
force  the  French  legion,  under  the  command  of  the 
Duke  de  Luzerne,  and  a  detachment  of  French  in 
fantry  and  militia,  are  posted  in  that  vicinity.  Tarle- 
ton  is  a  bold  and  impetuous  leader,  and  has  spread 
terror  through  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia  for  some 
time  past.  In  making  a  sally  from  Gloucester  yes 
terday,  they  were  attacked  by  the  French  and  de 
feated  with  the  loss  of  the  commanding  officer  of 
their  infantry  and  about  fifty  men  killed  and  wound 
ed,  among  the  latter  is  Tarleton  himself.  The  Duke 
lost  three  men  killed  and  two  officers  and  eleven 
men  wounded.  It  is  with  much  concern  we  learn 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  337 

that  Colonel  Scammel  died  at  Williamsburg,  of  the 
wound  which  he  received  a  few  days  since,  when  he 
was  taken  prisoner ;  the  wound  was  inflicted  after  he 
had  surrendered.  At  the  request  of  General  Wash 
ington,  Lord  Cornwallis  allowed  him  to  be  carried 
to  Williamsburg,  where  he  died  this  day,  univer 
sally  lamented,  as  he  was  while  living  universally 
respected  and  esteemed.  The  Commander  in  Chief 
was  well  apprized  of  his  merit,  and  bestowed  on  him 
marks  of  his  friendly  regard  and  confidence.  For 
some  time  he  sustained  the  ofiice  of  adjutant  gen 
eral  to  our  army,  but  prefering  a  more  active  com 
mand  and  the  post  of  danger,  he  wras  put  at  the  head 
of  a  regiment  of  light  infantry  for  this  enterprizing 
campaign.  The  British  have  sent  from  York  town  a 
large  number  of  negroes  sick  with  the  small  pox, 
probably  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  the  in 
fection  to  our  army ;  thus  our  inhuman  enemies  resort 
to  every  method  in  their  power,  however  barbarous 
or  cruel,  to  injure  and  distress,  and  thus  to  gain  an 
advantage  over  their  opposers. 

7th. — A  large  detachment  of  the  allied  army, 
under  command  of  Major  General  Lincoln,  were 
ordered  out  last  evening,  for  the  purpose  of  opening 
intrenchments  near  the  enemy's  lines.  This  business 
was  conducted  with  great  silence  and  secrecy,  and 
we  were  favored  by  Providence  with  a  night  of  ex 
treme  darkness,  and  were  not  discovered  before  day 
light.  The  working  party  carried  on  their  shoulders 
fascines  and  intrenching  tools,  while  a  large  part  of 
the  detachment  was  armed  with  the  implements  of 
death.  Horses,  drawing  cannon  and  ordnance,  and 
wagons  loaded  with  bags  filled  with  sand  for  con 
structing  breast  works,  followed  in  the  rear.  Thus 
arranged,  every  officer  and  soldier  knowing  his  par 
ticular  station,  orders  were  given  to  advance  in  per 
fect  silence,  the  distance  about  one  mile.  My  station 
on  this  occasion  was,  with  Dr.  Munson,  my  mate,  in 
the  rear  of  the  troops,  and  as  the  music  was  not  to 
43 


338  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

be    employed,  about   twenty    drummers   and  fifers, 
were  put  under  my  charge  to  assist  me  in  case  of 
having  wounded  men  to  attend.    I  put  into  the  hands 
of  a  drummer,   a  mulatto    fellow,    my  instruments, 
bandages,  &c.  with   a   positive  order  to  keep  at  my 
elbow,  arid   not  lose   sight  of  me  a  moment ;  it  was 
not  long  however,  before  I  found  to  my  astonishment 
that  he  had  left  me  and  gone  in  pursuit  of  some  rum, 
and  carried  off  the  articles  which  are  indispensable 
in  time  of  action.     In  this  very  unpleasant  predica 
ment,  unwilling  to  trust  another,  I  hastened  with  all 
speed  to   the    hospital,  about   one  mile,  to    procure 
another  supply  from  Dr.  Craik  ;  and  he  desired  that 
if  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  should   be  wounded  1 
would  devote  to  him  my  first  attention.     On  my  re 
turn  I  found  Dr.  Munson  and  my  party  waiting,  but 
the  troops  had  marched  on  and  we  knew  not  their 
route.     We  were  obliged  to  follow  at  random,  and  in 
the  darkness  of  night,  hazarding  our  approach  to  the 
enemy.      Having  advanced   about  half  a  mile,  of  a 
sudden  a  party  of  armed  men  in  white   uniform  rose 
from  the  ground,  and  ordered  us  to  stop ;  they  prov 
ed  to  be  the  rear  guard  of  the  French.     The  oflicer 
demanded   the  countersign,  which  I   was  unable   to 
give,  and  as  we   could  not  understand  each   others' 
language,  I  was  detained  under  considerable  embar 
rassment  till  an  officer  who  could   speak  English  was 
called,   when  producing  my  instruments  and  band 
ages,  and  assuring  the  French  officer  that  I  was  sur 
geon  to   the  infantry,  he   politely  conducted  me  to 
my  station.     Our  troops  were  indefatigable  in  their 
labors  during  the  night,  and  before  day  light  they 
had  nearly  completed  the  first  parallel  line  of  nearly 
two  miles  in  extent,  besides  laying  a  foundation  for 
two  redoubts,  within  about  six  hundred  yards  of  the 
enemy's  lines.     At  day  light  the   enemy  having  dis 
covered  our  works,  commenced  a  severe  cannonade, 
but  our  men  being  under  cover  received  no  injury. 
A  French  soldier  deserted  to  the  enemy,  after  which 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781.  339 

there  was  a  constant  firing  against  the  French  lines, 
and  one  officer  was  killed,  and  fifteen  men  were  killed 
or  wounded.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  night  it  rain 
ed  severely,  and  being  in  the  open  field,  cold  and 
uncomfortable,  I  entered  a  small  hut  made  of  brush, 
which  the  enemy  had  abandoned,  soon  after,  a  man 
came  to  the  door,  and  seeing  me  standing  in  the  cen 
tre  instantly  drew  his  sword,  and  put  himself  in  an 
attitude  to  plunge  it  into  me.  I  called  out  friend, 
friend,  and  he  as  speedily  to  my  great  joy  responded, 
66  Ah,  Monsieur,  friend,"  and  returning  his  sword  to 
its  place  he  departed.  I  think  he  was  a  French 
soldier,  arid  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  or  myself  was 
the  most  frightened. 

8^,  and  $th. — The  duty  of  our  troops  has  been 
for  several  days  extremely  severe ;  our  regiment 
labors  in  the  trenches  every  other  day  and  night, 
where  I  find  it  difficult  to  avoid  suffering  by  the 
cold,  having  no  other  covering  than  a  single  blanket 
in  the  open  field.  We  erected  a  battery  last  night 
in  front  of  our  first  parallel,  without  any  annoyance 
from  the  enemy.  Two  or  three  of  our  batteries 
being  now  prepared  to  open  on  the  town,  his  Ex 
cellency  General  Washington  put  the  match  to  the 
first  gun,  and  a  furious  discharge  of  cannon  and  mor 
tars  immediately  followed,  and  Earl  Cornwallis  has 
received  his  first  salutation. 

From  the  10th  to  the  15th,  a  tremendous  and  in 
cessant  firing  from  the  American  and  French  bat 
teries  is  kept  up,  and  the  enemy  return  the  fire,  but 
with  little  effect.  A  red  hot  shell  from  the  French 
battery  set  fire  to  the  Charon,  a  British  44  gun  ship, 
and  two  or  three  smaller  vessels  at  anchor  in  the 
river,  which  were  consumed  in  the  night.  From  the 
bank  of  the  river,  I  had  a  fine  view  of  this  splendid 
conflagration.  The  ships  were  enwrapped  in  a  tor 
rent  of  fire,  which  spreading  with  vivid  brightness 
among  the  combustible  rigging,  and  running  with 
amazing  rapidity  to  the  tops  of  the  several  masts. 


340  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

while  all  around  was  thunder  and  lightning  from  our 
numerous  cannon  and  mortars,  and  in  the  darkness 
of  night,  presented  one  of  the  most  sublime  and  mag 
nificent  spectacles  which  can  be  imagined.  Some  of 
our  shells,  overreaching  the  town,  are  seen  to  fall 
into  the  river,  and  bursting,  throw  up  columns  of 
water  like  the  spouting  of  the  monsters  of  the  deep. 
We  have  now  made  further  approaches  to  the  town, 
by  throwing  up  a  second  parallel  line,  and  batteries 
within  about  three  hundred  yards,  this  was  effected 
in  the  night,  and  at  day  light  the  enemy  were  roused 
to  the  greatest  exertions,  the  engines  of  war  have 
raged  with  redoubled  fury  and  destruction  on  both 
sides,  no  cessation  day  or  night.  The  French  had  two 
officers  wounded,  and  fifteen  men  killed  or  wounded, 
and  among  the  Americans,  two  or  three  were  wound 
ed.  I  assisted  in  amputating  a  man's  thigh.  The 
siege  is  daily  becoming  more  and  more  formidable 
and  alarming,  and  his  Lordship  must  view  his  situa 
tion  as  extremely  critical,  if  not  desperate.  Being 
in  the  trenches  every  other  night  and  day,  I  have  a 
fine  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  sublime  and  stupen 
dous  scene  which  is  continually  exhibiting.  The 
bomb  shells  from  the  besiegers  and  the  besieged  are 
incessantly  crossing  each  others'  path  in  the  air.  They 
are  clearly  visible  in  the  form  of  a  black  ball  in  the 
day,  but  in  the  night,  they  appear  like  a  fiery  meteor 
with  a  blazing  tail,  most  beautifully  brilliant,  ascend 
ing  majestically  from  the  mortar  to  a  certain  altitude, 
and  gradually  descending  to  the  spot  where  they  are 
destined  to  execute  their  work  of  destruction.  It  is 
astonishing  with  what  accuracy  an  experienced  gun 
ner  will  make  his  calculations,  that  a  shell  shall  fall 
within  a  few  feet  of  a  given  point,  and  burst  at  the 
precise  time,  though  at  a  great  distance.  When  a 
shell  falls,  it  whirls  round,  burrows,  and  excavates 
the  earth  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  bursting, 
makes  dreadful  havoc  around.  I  have  more  than 
once  witnessed  fragments  of  the  mangled  bodies  and 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  341 

limbs  of  the  British  soldiers  thrown  into  the  air  by 
the  bursting  of  our  shells,  and  by  one  from  the  enemy, 
Captain  White,  of  the  seventh  Massachusetts  regiment, 
and  one  soldier  were  killed,  and  another  wounded  near 
where  I  was  standing.  About  twelve  or  fourteen  men 
have  been  killed  or  wounded  within  twenty  four 
hours ;  I  attended  at  the  hospital,  amputated  a  man's 
arm,  and  assisted  in  dressing  a  number  of  wounds. 
The  enemy  having  two  redoubts,  about  three  him- 
dred  yards  in  front  of  their  principal  works,  wluoh 
enfiladed  our  entrenchment  and  impeded  our  ap 
proaches,  it  was  resolved  to  take  possession  of  them 
both  by  assault.  The  one  on  the  left  of  the  British 
garrison,  bordering  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  was 
assigned  to  our  brigade  of  light  infantry,  under  the 
command  of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette.  The  ad 
vanced  corps  was  led  on  by  the  intrepid  Colonel 
Hamilton,  who  had  commanded  a  regiment  of  light 
infantry  during  the  campaign,  and  assisted  by  Colonel 
Gimat.  The  assault  commenced  at  eight  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  and  the  assailants  bravely  entered  the 
fort  with  the  point  of  the  bayonet  without  firing  a 
single  gun.  We  suffered  the  loss  of  -eight  men  killed, 
and  about  thirty  wounded,  among  whom  Colonel 
Gimat  received  a  slight  wound  in  his  foot,  and  Major 
Gibbs,  of  his  Excellency's  guard,  and  two  other  offi 
cers,  were  slightly  wounded.  Major  Campbell,  who 
commanded  in  the  fort,  was  wounded  and  taken  priso 
ner,  with  about  thirty  soldiers,  the  remainder  made 
their  escape.  I  was  desired  to  visit  the  wounded  in 
the  fort,  even  before  the  balls  had  ceased  whistling 
about  my  ears,  and  saw  a  sergeant  and  eight  men 
dead  in  the  ditch.  A  captain  of  our  infantry,  belong 
ing  to  New  Hampshire,  threatened  to  take  the  life  of 
Major  Campbell,  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  favorite, 
Colonel  Scammel,  but  Colonel  Hamilton  interposed, 
and  not  a  man  was  killed  after  he  ceased  to  resist. 
During  the  assault,  the  British  kept  up  an  incessant 
firing  of  cannon  and  muskctrv  from  their  whole  line. 


342  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

His  Excellency  General  Washington,  Generals  Lin 
coln  and  Knox,  with  their  aids,  having  dismounted, 
were  standing  in  an  exposed  situation  waiting  the 
result.  Colonel  Cobb,  one  of  General  Washington's 
aids,  solicitous  for  his  safety,  said  to  his  Excellency, 
"  Sir,  you  are  too  much  exposed  here,  had  you  not 
better  step  a  little  back."  "  Colonel  Cobb,"  replied 
his  Excellency,  "  if  you  are  afraid,  you  have  liberty 
to  step  back."  The  other  redoubt  on  the  right  of 
the  British  lines  was  assaulted  at  the  same  time  by  a 
detachment  of  the  French,  commanded  by  the  gallant 
Baron  de  Viominel.  Such  was  the  ardor  displayed 
by  the  assailants,  that  all  resistance  was  soon  over 
come,  though  at  the  expense  of  nearly  one  hundred 
men  killed  and  wounded.*-  Of  the  defenders  of  the 
redoubt,  eighteen  were  killed,  and  one  captain  and 
two  subaltern  officers  and  forty  two  rank  and  file 
captured.  Our  second  parallel  line  was  immediately 
connected  with  the  two  redoubts  now  taken  from  the 
enemy,  and  some  new  batteries  were  thrown  up  in 
front  of  our  second  parallel  line,  with  a  covert  way, 
and  angling  work  approaching  to  less  than  three 
hundred  yards  of  their  principal  forts.  These  will 
soon  be  mantled  with  cannon  and  mortars,  and  when 
their  horrid  thundering  commences,  it  must  convince 
his  Lordship,  that  his  post  is  not  invincible,  and  that 
submission  must  soon  be  his  only  alternative.  Our 


*  The  cause  of  the  great  loss  sustained  by  the  French  troops  in  com 
parison  with  that  of  the  Americans,  in  storming  their  respective  re 
doubts,  was  that  the  American  troops  when  they  came  to  the  abattis, 
removed  a  part  of  it  with  their  hands  and  leaped  over  the  remainder. 
The  French  troops  on  coming-  up  to  theirs,  waited  till  their  pioneers  had 
cut  away  the  abattis  secundum  artem,  which  exposed  them  longer  to 
the  galling  fire  of  the  enemy.  To  this  cause  also  is  to  be  ascribed  the 
circumstance,  that,  the  redoubt  assailed  by  the  Americans,  was  car 
ried  before  that  attacked  by  the  French  troops.  The  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette,  sent  his  aid,  Major  Burbour,  through  the^tremendous  fire  of  the 
whole  line  of  the  British,  to  inform  the  Baron  Viominel,  that  u  he  was 
in  his  redoubt,  and  to  ask  the  Baron  where  he  was."  The  major  found 
the  Baron  waiting  the  clearing  away  the  abattis,  but  sent  this  answer, 
"tell  the  Marquis  I  am  not  in  mine,  but  will  be  in  five  minutes."  He 
instantly  advanced,  and  was  within  or  nearly  so,  within  his  time. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  343 

artillery  men,  by  the  exactness  of  their  aim,  make 
every  discharge  take  effect,  so  that  many  of  the  ene 
my's  guns  are  entirely  silenced  and  their  works  are 
almost  in  ruins. 

16th. — A  party  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  about 
four  hundred  men,  commanded  by  Colonel  Aber- 
crombie,  about  four  in  the  morning,  made  a  vigor 
ous  sortie  against  two  unfinished  redoubts  occupied 
by  the  French,  they  spiked  up  seven  or  eight 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  killed  several  soldiers,  but  the 
French  advanced  and  drove  them  from  the  redoubts, 
leaving  several  killed  and  wounded.  Our  New  Eng 
land  troops  have  now  become  very  sickly,  the  pre 
valent  diseases  are  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers, 
which  are  very  prevalent  in  this  climate  during  the 
autumnal  months. 

17 'th. — The  whole  of  our  works  are  now  mount 
ed  with  cannon  and  mortars,  not  less  than  one  hun 
dred  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  have  been  in  con 
tinual  operation  during  the  last  twenty  four  hours. 
The  whole  peninsula  trembles  under  the  incessant 
thunderings  of  our  infernal  machines;  we  have 
leveled  some  of  their  works  in  ruins  and  silenced 
their  guns ;  they  have  almost  ceased  firing.  We  are 
so  near  as  to  have  a  distinct  view  of  the  dreadful 
havoc  and  destruction  of  their  works,  and  even  see 
the  men  in  their  lines  torn  to  pieces  by  the  bursting 
of  our  shells.  But  the  scene  is  drawing  to  a  close. 
Lord  Cornwallis  at  length  realizing  the  extreme 
hazard  of  his  deplorable  situation,  and  finding  it  in 
vain  any  longer  to  resist,  has  this  forenoon  come  to  the 
humiliating  expedient  of  sending  out  a  flag,  request 
ing  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  twenty  four  hours, 
that  commissioners  may  be  appointed  to  prepare  and 
adjust  the  terms  of  capitulation.  Two  or  three  flags 
passed  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  General  Wash 
ington  consented  to  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  two 
hours  only,  that  his  Lordship  may  suggest  his  pro 
posals  as  a  basis  for  a  treaty,  which  being  in  part 


344  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

accepted,  a  suspension  of  hostilities  will  be  continued 
till  tomorrow. 

18th. — It  is  now  ascertained  that  Lord  Corn 
wallis,  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  a  surrender,  had  de 
termined  on  the  hold  attempt  to  make  his  escape 
in  the  night  of  the  16th,  with  a  part  of  his  army 
into  the  country.  His  plan  was  to  leave  sick  and 
haggage  behind,  and  to  cross  with  his  effective 
force  over  to  Gloucester  point,  there  to  destroy 
the  French  legion  and  other  troops,  and  to  mount 
his  infantry  on  their  horses  and  such  others  as 
might  be  procured,  and  thus  push  their  way  to 
New  York  by  land.  A  more  preposterous  and  des 
perate  attempt  can  scarcely  be  imagined.  Boats  were 
secretly  prepared,  arrangements  made,  and  a  large 
proportion  of  his  troops  actually  embarked  and  land 
ed  on  Gloucester  point,  when  from  a  moderate  and 
calm  evening,  a  most  violent  storm  of  wind  and  rain 
ensued.  The  boats  with  the  remaining  troops  were 
all  driven  down  the  river,  and  it  was  not  till  the  next 
day  that  his  troops  could  be  returned  to  the  garrison 
at  York.  At  an  early  hour  this  forenoon  General 
Washington  communicated  to  Lord  Cornwallis,  the 
general  basis  of  the  terms  of  capitulation,  which  he 
deemed  admissible,  and  allowed  two  hours  for  his 
reply.  Commissioners  were  soon  after  appointed  to 
prepare  the  particular  terms  of  agreement.  The  gen 
tlemen  appointed  by  General  Washington,  are  Colo 
nel  Laurens,  one  of  his  aid  de  camps,  and  Viscount 
Noaille  of  the  French  army.  They  have  this  day 
held  an  interview  with  the  two  British  officers  on  the 
part  of  Lord  Cornwallis,  the  terms  of  capitulation  are 
settled,  and  being  confirmed  by  the  commanders  of 
both  armies,  the  royal  troops  are  to  march  out  to 
morrow  and  surrender  their  arms.  It  is  a  circum 
stance  deserving  of  remark,  that  Colonel  Laurens 
who  is  stipulating  for  the  surrender  of  a  British 
nobleman,  at  the  head  of  a  royal  army,  is  the  son  of 
Mr.  Henry  Laurens,  our  ambassador  to  Holland, 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  345 

who   being  captured  on  his  voyage,  is  now  in  close 
confinement  in  the  tower  of  London.* 

19th. — This  is  to  us  a  most  glorious  day,  but  to  the 
English,  one  of  hitter  chagrin  and  disappointment 
Preparations  are  now  making  to  receive  as  captives, 
that  vindictive,  haughty  commander,  and  that  victori 
ous  army,  who  by  their  robberies  and  murders  have  so 
long  been  a  scourge  to  our  brethren  of  the  southern 
states.  Being  on  horseback,  I  anticipate  a  full  share 
of  satisfaction  in  viewing  the  various  movements  in 
the  interesting  scene.  The  stipulated  terms  of  ca 
pitulation  are  similar  to  those  granted  to  General  Lin 
coln  at  Charleston  the  last  year.  The  captive  troops 
are  to  march  out  with  shouldered  arms,  colors  cased, 
and  drums  beating  a  British  or  German  march,  and 
to  ground  their  arms  at  a  place  assigned  for  the 
purpose.  The  officers  are  allowed  their  side  arms 
and  private  property,  and  the  generals  and  such 
officers  as  desire  it,  are  to  go  on  parole  to  England  or 
New  York.  The  marines  and  seamen  of  the  king's 
ships  are  prisoners  of  war  to  the  navy  of  France,  and 
the  land  forces  to  the  United  States.  All  military 
and  artillery  stores  to  be  delivered  up  unimpaired. 
The  royal  prisoners  to  be  sent  into  the  interior  of 
Virginia,  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  in  regiments,  to 
have  rations  allowed  them  equal  to  the  American  sol 
diers,  and  to  have  their  officers  near  them.  Lord 
Cornwallis  to  man  and  despatch  the  Bonetta  sloop  of 
war  with  despatches  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  at  New 

*  Connected  with  this  transaction  there  is  a  concurrence  of  circum 
stances  so  peculiarly  remarkable,  that  I  cannot  omit  to  notice  them  in 
this  place.  Mr.  Henry  Lauren?,  who  was  deputed  by  Conerrees  as  our 
ambassador  to  Holland,  was  captured  and  carried  into  England,  and 
closely  and  most  rigorously  confined  in  the  tower  of  London.  Lord 
Cornwallis  sustains  the  office  of  constable  to  the  tower,  of  course  Mr. 
Laurens  is  his  prisoner.  The  son,  Colonel  John  Laurens,  stipulates  the 
conditions  of  the  surrender  of  the  constable,  who  becomes  our  prisoner, 
while  Mr.  Lanrens,  the  father,  remains  confined  in  the  tower  as  a  pri 
soner  to  the  captured  constable.  Congress  had  proposed  that  Mr.  Lan 
rens  should  be  received  in  exchange  for  General  Burgoyne,  but  the  pro 
posal  was  rejected  by  the  British  Government.  After  Cornwallis  was 
captured  however,  he  was  readily  received  in  exchange  for  ]\Jr.  Laurens. 

44 


346  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

York  without  being  searched,  the  vessel  to  be  re 
turned  and  the  hands  accounted  for.  At  about 
twelve  o'clock,  the  combined  army  was  arranged  and 
drawn  up  in  two  lines  extending  more  than  a  mile 
in  length.  The  Americans  were  drawn  up  in  a  line 
on  the  right  side  of  the  road,  and  the  French  occu 
pied  the  left.  At  the  head  of  the  former  the  great 
American  commander,  mounted  on  his  noble  courser, 
took  his  station,  attended  by  his  aids.  At  the  head 
of  the  latter  was  posted  the  excellent  Count  Rocham- 
beau  and  his  suite.  The  French  troops,  in  complete 
uniform,  displayed  a  martial  and  noble  appearance, 
their  band  of  music,  of  which  the  timbrel  formed  a 
part,  is  a  delightful  novelty,  and  produced  while 
marching  to  the  ground,  a  most  enchanting  effect. 
The  Americans  though  not  all  in  uniform  nor  their 
dress  so  neat,  yet  exhibited  an  erect  soldierly  air, 
and  every  countenance  beamed  with  satisfaction  and 
joy.  The  concourse  of  spectators  from  the  country 
was  prodigious,  in  point  of  numbers  probably  equal 
to  the  military,  but  universal  silence  and  order  pre 
vailed.  It  was  about  two  o'clock  when  the  captive 
army  advanced  through  the  line  formed  for  their 
reception.  Every  eye  was  prepared  to  gaze  on 
Lord  Cornwallis,  the  object  of  peculiar  interest  and 
solicitude  ;  but  he  disappointed  our  anxious  expecta 
tions  :  pretending  indisposition,  he  made  General 
O'Harra.  his  substitute  as  the  leader  of  his  army. 
This  officer  was  followed  by  the  conquered  troops  in 
a  slow  and  solemn  step,  with  shouldered  arms,  colors 
cased  and  drums  beating  a  British  march.  Having 
arrived  at  the  head  of  the  line,  General  O'Harra, 
elegantly  mounted,  advanced  to  his  Excellency  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  taking  off  his  hat,  and  apolo 
gized  for  the  non  appearance  of  Earl  Cornwallis. 
With  his  usual  dignity  and  politeness  his  Excellency 
pointed  to  Major  General  Lincoln  for  directions, 
by  whom  the  British  army  was  conducted  into  a 
spacious  field  where  it  was  intended  they  should 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  347 

ground  their  arms.  The  royal  troops,  while  march 
ing  through  the  line  formed  by  the  allied  army,  ex 
hibited  a  decent  and  neat  appearance,  as  respects 
arms  and  clothing,  for  their  commander  opened  his 
store  and  directed  every  soldier  to  be  furnished  with 
a  new  suit  complete,  prior  to  the  capitulation.  But  in 
their  line  of  march  we  remarked  a  disorderly  and 
unsoldierly  conduct,  their  step  was  irregular,  and  their 
ranks  frequently  broken.  But  it  was  in  the  field 
when  they  came  to  the  last  act  of  the  drama,  that  the 
spirit  and  pride  of  the  British  soldier  was  put  to  the 
severest  test,  here  their  mortification  could  not  be 
concealed.  Some  of  the  platoon  officers  appeared 
to  be  exceedingly  chagrined  when  giving  the  word 
"  ground  arms,"  and  I  am  a  witness  that  they  per 
formed  this  duty  in  a  very  unofficer  like  manner, 
and  that  many  of  the  soldiers  manifested  a  sullen 
temper,  throwing  their  arms  on  the  pile  with  vio 
lence,  as  if  determined  to  render  them  useless.  This 
irregularity,  however,  was  checked  by  the  authority 
of  General  Lincoln.  After  having  grounded  their 
arms  and  divested  themselves  of  their  accoutrements, 
the  captive  troops  were  conducted  back  to  Yorktown 
and  guarded  by  our  troops  till  they  could  be  removed 
to  the  place  of  their  destination.  The  British  troops 
that  were  stationed  at  Gloucester  surrendered  at  the 
same  time,  and  in  the  same  manner  to  the  command 
of  the  Duke  de  Luzerne.  This  must  be  a  very  in 
teresting  and  gratifying  transaction  to  General  Lin 
coln,  who  having  himself  been  obliged  to  surrender 
an  army  to  a  haughty  foe  the  last  year,  has  now 
assigned  him  the  pleasing  duty  of  giving  laws  to  a 
conquered  army  in  return,  and  of  reflecting  that  the 
terms  which  were  imposed  on  him  are  adopted  as  a 
basis  of  the  surrender  in  the  present  instance.  It  is 
a  very  gratifying  circumstance  that  every  degree  of 
harmony,  confidence  and  friendly  intercourse  subsist 
ed  between  the  American  and  French  troops  during 
the  campaign,  no  contest  except  an  emulous  spirit 


348  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

to  excel  in  exploits  and  enterprise  against  the  com 
mon  enemy,  and  a  desire  to  be  celebrated  in  the 
annals  of  history  for  an  ardent  love  of  great  and  heroic 
actions.  We  are  not  to  be  surprized  that  the  pride 
of  the  British  officers  is  humbled  on  this  occasion,  as 
they  have  always  entertained  an  exalted  opinion  of 
their  own  military  prowess,  and  affected  to  view  the 
Americans  as  a  contemptible,  undisciplined  rabble. 
But  there  is  no  display  of  magnanimity  when  a  great 
commander  shrinks  from  the  inevitable  misfortunes  of 
war,  and  when  it  is  considered  that  Lord  Cornwallis 
has  frequently  appeared  in  splendid  triumph  at  the 
head  of  his  army  by  which  he  is  almost  adored,  we 
conceive  it  incumbent  on  him  cheerfully  to  partici 
pate  in  their  misfortunes  and  degradations,  however 
humiliating ;  but  it  is  said  he  gives  himself  up  en 
tirely  to  vexation  and  despair. 

20th. — In  the  general  orders  of  this  day  our  Com 
mander  in  Chief  expresses  his  entire  approbation, 
and  his  warmest  thanks  to  the  French  and  American 
officers  and  soldiers  of  all  descriptions,  for  the  brave 
and  honorable  part  which  they  have  acted  during 
the  siege.  He  congratulates  the  combined  army  on 
the  momentous  event  which  closes  the  campaign,  and 
which  crowns  their  heads  with  unfading  laurels,  and 
entitles  them  to  the  applause  and  gratitude  of  their 
country.  Among  the  general  officers  whom  his  Ex 
cellency  particularly  noticed,  for  the  important  ser 
vices  which  they  rendered  during  the  siege,  are 
Generals  Lincoln,  de  la  Fayette,  Steuben,  Knox,  and 
Du,Portail,  his  Excellency  Count  Rochambeau,  and 
several  other  distinguished  French  officers.  To  Gov- 
enor  Nelson,  of  Virginia,  he  returned  his  grateful 
and  sincere  acknowledgments  for  the  essential  suc 
cors  afforded  by  him  and  the  militia  under  his  com 
mand.  The  Commander  in  Chief,  wishing  that  every 
heart  should  participate  in  the  joy  of  this  memorable 
day,  ordered  that  all  those  who  are  under  arrest  or 
confinement  should  be  immediately  pardoned  and  set 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1781.  349 

at  liberty,  a  circumstance  which  I  believe  has  never 
before  occurred  in  our  army.  He  closed  by  order 
ing  that  divine  service  shall  be  performed  in  the 
several  brigades  tomorrow,  and  recommends  that  the 
troops  attend  with  a  serious  deportment,  and  with 
that  sensibility  of  heart  which  the  recollection  of  the 
surprizing  and  particular  interposition  of  Providence 
in  our  favor  claims. 

22d. — Yesterday  being   Sunday,  our  brigade    of 
infantry,  and   the  York  brigade  were  drawn  up  in 
the  field  to  attend  divine  service  performed  by  Mr. 
Evans.     After  offering  to  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  battles,  our  grateful  homage  for  the  preservation  of 
our  lives  through  the  dangers  of  the   siege,  and  for 
the  important  event  with  which  Divine  Providence 
has  seen  fit  to  crown  our  efforts,  he  preached  an  ex 
cellent  and  appropriate  sermon.     Generals  Lincoln 
and  Clinton  were  present.     In  the  design  and  execu 
tion  of  this  successful  expedition,  our  Commander  in 
Chief  fairly  out  generated  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and 
the  whole  movement  was  marked  by  consummate  mili 
tary  address,  which  reduced  the  royal  general  to  a 
mortifying  dilemma  that  no  skill  or  enterprize  could 
retrieve.     A  siege  of  thirteen  days,  prosecuted  with 
unexampled  rapidity,  has  terminated  in  the  'capture 
of  one  of  the  greatest  generals  of  which  the  English 
can  boast,  and  a  veteran   and  victorious  army  \vhich 
has  for  several  months  past  spread  terror  and  desola 
tion  throughout  the  southern  states.     The  joy  on  this 
momentous  occasion  is  universally  diffused,  and  the 
hope  entertained  that  it  will  arrest  the  career  of  a 
cruel  warfare,  and  advance  the  establishment  of  Ame 
rican  Independence.     In  the  progress  of  the  royal 
army  through  the  state  of  Virginia  the  preceding 
summer,  they  practised  the  most  abominable  enor 
mities,  plundering  negroes   and  horses   from  almost 
every  plantation,  and  reducing  the  country  to  ruin. 
Among  the  prodigious  assemblage  of  spectators  at 
the  time  of  surrender,   were  a  number  of  planters 


350  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

searching  for  the  property  which  had  been  thus 
purloined  from  their  estates.  The  famous  Colonel 
Tarleton,  mounted  on  a  horse  remarkable  for  elegance 
and  noble  appearance,  while  riding  in  company  with 
several  French  officers  with  whom  he  was  to  dine, 
was  met  by  a  gentleman,  who  instantly  recognized 
the  animal  as  his  own  property.  Tarleton  was  stop 
ped,  and  the  horse  peremptorily  demanded  ;  observ 
ing  a  little  hesitation,  the  British  General  O'Harra, 
who  was  present,  said,  "  you  had  better  give  him  his 
horse,  Tarleton,"  on  which  the  colonel  dismounted 
and  delivered  the  horse  to  the  original  proprietor ; 
after  which,  being  remounted  on  a  very  miserable 
animal,  he  rejoined  his  company,  and  the  French 
officers  were  greatly  surprized  that  he  should  be  so 
humbly  mounted.  The  British  prisoners  were  all 
sent  off  yesterday,  conducted  by  a  party  of  militia 
on  their  way  to  the  interior  of  Virginia  and  Mary 
land.  I  have  this  day  visited  the  town  of  York,  to 
witness  the  destructive  effects  of  the  siege.  It  con 
tains  about  sixty  houses,  some  of  them  are  elegant, 
many  of  them  are  greatly  damaged  and  some  totally 
ruined,  being  shot  through  in  a  thousand  places  and 
honey  combed  ready  to  crumble  to  pieces.  Rich  fur 
niture  and  books  were  scattered  over  the  ground, 
and  the  carcases  of  men  and  horses  half  covered 
with  earth,  exhibited  a  scene  of  ruin  and  horror  be 
yond  description.  The  earth  in  many  places  is 
thrown  up  into  mounds  by  the  force  of  our  shells, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  point  to  a  spot  where  a  man 
could  have  resorted  for  safety. 

The  loss  on  the  part  of  the  French  during  the 
siege,  was  fifty  killed  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
seven  wounded.  Americans  twenty  seven  killed 
and  seventy  three  wounded,  officers  included.  Corn- 
wallis'  account  of  his  loss  during  the  siege  is  one 
hundred  and  fifty  six,  three  hundred  and  twenty  six 
wounded,  and  seventy  missing,  probably  deserted, 
total  five  hundred  and  fiftv  two.  The  whole  num- 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  351 

her  surrendered  by  capitulation,  seven  thousand  two 
hundred  and  forty  seven.*  The  amount  of  artillery 
and  military  stores,  provisions,  &c.  is  very  considera 
ble,  seventy  five  brass  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  nine 
iron  cannon,  seven  thousand  seven  hundred  ninety 
four  muskets;  regimental  standards,  German  eighteen, 
British  ten.  From  the  military  chest  we  received 
two  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirteen  pounds  six 
shillings  sterling. 

Lord  Cornwallis  is  a  very  distinguished  warrior, 
he  possesses  an  exalted  spirit,  is  brave  and  intre 
pid,  and  never  was  there  a  more  zealous  champion 
of  his  tyrannical  master ;  austere  and  rigorous  in  his 
temper,  nothing  could  be  more  foreign  from  his 
heart  than  the  sympathies  of  benevolence  or  generous 
compassion.  Had  all  the  rebels  in  the  states  but  one 
neck,  his  Lordship  would  glory  in  nothing  more 
than  an  opportunity  of  severing  the  jugular  vein. 
But  Cornwallis  has  fallen  !  and  our  country  is  not 
subjugated.f 

It  is  proper  I  should  take  a  retrospect  of  some 
events  which  have  marked  the  conduct  of  the  war 
of  extermination  in  the  southern  states.  A  singular 
kind  of  ferocious  animosity  has  subsisted  between  the 
two  contending  parties,  as  may  be  seen  by  letters 
from  General  Greene  on  the  subject.  "The  ani 
mosity,"  says  this  amiable  man,  "  between  the  whigs 

*  Another  list  which  has  been  published,  makes  their  total  loss  by 
death  and  capture  to  be  eleven  thousand  eight  hundred,  including  two 
thousand  sailors,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  negroes,  one  thousand 
five  hundred  tories,  eighty  vessels  large  and  small. 

tit  is  asserted  in  Gordon's  History  of  the  War,  that  wherever  the 
army  of  Lord  Cornwallis  marched,  the  dwelling  houses  were  plundered 
of  every  thing  that  could  be  carried  off.  Hundreds  of  eye  witnesses 
can  prove  that  his  Lordship's  table  was  served  with  plate  thus  pillaged 
from  private  families.  By  an  estimate  made  at  the  time,  on  the  best 
information  that  could  be  collected,  the  state  of  Virginia  lost  during 
Cornwallis'  attempts  to  reduce  it,  thirty  thousand  slaves.  And  it  has 
been  computed  that  one  thousand  four  hundred  widows  were  made  by 
the  ravaging  hand  of  war  in  the  single  district  of  Ninety  Six.  The 
whole  devastations  occasioned  by  the  British  army,  during  the  six  months 
previous  to  their  surrender  at  Yorktown,  are  supposed  to  amount  to 
about  three  millions  sterling. 


352  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

and  tories  of  this  state  renders  their  situation  truly 
deplorable.  Not  a  day  passes  but  there  are  more 
or  less  who  fall  a  sacrifice  to  this  savage  disposition. 
The  whigs  seem  determined  to  extirpate  the  tories, 
and  the  tories  the  whigs.  Some  thousands  have 
fallen  in  this  way  in  this  quarter,  and  the  evil  rages 
with  more  violence  than  ever.  If  a  stop  cannot  be 
soon  put  to  these  massacres  the  country  will  be  de 
populated  in  a  few  months  more,  as  neither  whig 
nor  tory  can  live."  Speaking  of  a  certain  party  on 
our  side,  he  says,  "  this  party  plunders  without 
mercy,  and  murders  the  defenceless  people  just  as 
private  pique,  prejudice  or  personal  resentments  dic 
tate.  Principles  of  humanity  as  well  as  policy,  re 
quire  that  proper  measures  should  be  immediately 
taken  to  restrain  these  abuses,  heal  differences  and 
unite  the  people  as  much  as  possible.  No  violence 
should  be  offered  to  any  of  the  inhabitants  unless 
found  in  arms.  The  idea  of  exterminating  the  tories 
is  no  less  barbarous  than  impolitic."  Such  is  the  in 
fernal  spirit  of  revenge  and  bitterness  which  has 
caused  mutual  destruction  and  wretchedness  among 
the  people.  But  however  atrocious  may  have  been 
the  conduct  of  some  unauthorized  partizans  on  the 
part  of  the  Americans,  the  following  instance  of  in 
humanity  ,  in  the  sacrifice  of  one  of  the  victims  of 
their  malicious  resentment,  is  sufficient  to  stigmatize 
the  British  character  with  eternal  infamy.  Lord 
Rawdon  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Balfour,  have  per 
petrated  an  act  which  in  all  its  distressing  circum 
stances  surpasses  in  enormity  and  wickedness,  all 
others  which  have  come  to  our  knowledge,  and  which 
has  roused  the  indignant  spirit  of  every  true  Ame 
rican  to  a  pitch  of  desperation.  "  Colonel  Isaac 
Hayne,  during  the  siege  of  Charleston,  served  his 
country  as  an  officer  of  militia.  After  the  capitula 
tion  no  alternative  was  left  but  to  abandon  his  family 
and  property,  or  to  surrender  to  the  conquerors. 
The  small  pox  was  near  his  plantation,  and  he  had 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  353 

a  wife,  six  small  children,  and  more  than  one  hun 
dred  negroes,  all  liable  to  the  disease.  He  con 
cluded  that  instead  of  waiting  to  he  captured,  it  would 
be  both  more  safe  and  more  honorable  to  go  within 
the  British  lines,  and  surrender  himself  a  voluntary 
prisoner.  He  therefore  repaired  to  Charleston,  and 
offered  to  bind  himself  by  the  honor  of  an  American 
officer,  to  do  nothing  prejudicial  to  the  British  in 
terest  till  he  should  be  exchanged.  Reports  made 
of  his  superior  abilities  and  influence,  uniformly  ex 
erted  in  the  American  cause,  operated  with  the  con 
querors  to  refuse  him  a  parole,  though  they  were 
daily  accustomed  to  grant  this  indulgence  to  other 
inhabitants.  He  was  told,  that  he  must  either  be 
come  a  British  subject,  or  submit  to  close  confine 
ment.  To  be  arrested  and  detained  in  the  capital, 
was  not  to  himself  an  intolerable  evil,  but  to  abandon 
his  family  both  to  the  ravages  of  the  small  pox  then 
raging  in  their  neighborhood,  and  to  the  insults  and 
depredations  of  the  royalists,  was  too  much  for  the 
tender  husband  and  fond  parent.  To  acknowledge 
himself  the  subject  of  a  government  which  he  had 
from  principle  renounced,  was  repugnant  to  his  feel 
ings  ;  but,  without  this,  he  wras  cut  oif  from  every 
prospect  of  a  return  to  his  family.  In  this  embar 
rassing  situation,  he  waited  on  Dr.  Ramsay,  with  a 
declaration  to  the  following  effect.  "  If  the  British 
would  grant  me  the  indulgence  which  we  in  the  day 
of  our  power  gave  to  their  adherents,  of  removing 
my  family  and  property,  I  would  seek  an  asylum  in 
the  remotest  corner  of  the  United  States,  rather  than 
submit  to  their  government ;  but,  as  they  allow  no 
other  alternative  than  submission  or  confinement  in 
the  capital,  at  a  distance  from  my  wife  and  family, 
at  a  time  when  they  are  in  the  most  pressing  need 
of  my  presence  and  support,  I  must  for  the  present 
yield  to  the  demands  of  the  conquerors.  I  request 
you  to  bear  in  mind,  that  previous  to  my  taking  this 
step,  I  declare  that  it  is  contrary  to  my  inclination, 
45 


354  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1781. 

and  forced  on  me  by  hard  necessity.     I  never  will 
bear  arms  against  my  country.     My  new  masters  can 
require  no  service  of  me,  but  what  is  enjoined  by 
the  old  militia  law  of  the  province,  which  substitutes 
a  fine  in  lieu  of  personal  service.     This  I   will  pay 
as  the  price  of  my  protection.     If  my  conduct  should 
be  censured  by  my  countrymen,  I  beg  that  you  would 
remember  this  conversation,  and  bear  witness  for  me, 
that  I  do  not  mean  to  desert  the  cause  of  America/' 
In   this  state   of  perplexity,   Colonel  Hayne  sub 
scribed  a  declaration  of  his  allegiance  to  the  king  of 
Great  Britain  ;  but  not  without  expressly  objecting 
to  the  clause  which  required   him  with  his  arms  to 
support  the  royal  government.     The   commandant 
of  the    garrison,    Brigadier   General    Patterson  and 
James  Simpson,   Esquire,   intendant   of  the  British 
police,  assured  him  that  this  would   never  be  requir 
ed  ;  and  added  further,  that  when  the  regular  forces 
could  not  defend  the  country  without  the  aid  of  its  in 
habitants,  it  would  be  high  time  for  the  royal  army  to 
quit  it.     Having  submitted  to  the  royal  government, 
he  was  permitted  to  return  to  his  family.     Notwith 
standing  what  had  passed  at  the  time  of  his  submis 
sion,  he  was  repeatedly  called  on  to  take  arms  against 
his  countrymen,   and  finally  threatened  with   close 
confinement  in  case  of  a  further  refusal.     This  he 
considered  as  a  breach  of  contract,  and  it  being  no 
longer  in  the   power  of  the  British  to  give  him  that 
protection  which  was  to  be  the  compensation  of  his 
allegiance,  he   viewed  himself  as  released  from  all 
engagements  to  their  commanders.     The   inhabitants 
of  his  neighborhood,  who  had  also  revolted,  petition 
ed  General  Pickens  to  appoint  him  to  the  command 
of  their  regiment,  which  was  done,  and  the  appoint 
ment  accepted.     Hayne  fell  into  their  hands.     He 
was  carried  to  the  capital,  and  confined  in  the  pro 
vost  prison,  for  having  resumed  his  arms  after  ac 
cepting  British  protection.     At  first  he  was  promis 
ed  a  trial,  and  had  counsel  prepared  to  justify  his 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  353 

Conduct  by  the  laws  of  nations  and  usages  of  war, 
but  this  was  finally  refused,  and  he  was  ordered  for 
execution  by  Lord  Rawdon  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Balfour.  The  royal  Lieutenant  Governor  Bull,  and 
a  great  number  of  inhabitants,  both  royalists  and 
Americans,  interceded  for  his  life.  The  ladies  of 
Charleston  generally  signed  a  petition  in  his  behalf, 
in  which  was  introduced  every  delicate  sentiment 
that  was  likely  to  operate  on  the  gallantry  of  officers 
or  the  humanity  of  men.  His  children,  accompanied 
by  some  near  relations,  the  mother  had  died  of  the 
small  pox,  were  presented  on  their  bended  knees'as 
humble  suitors  for  their  father's  life.  Such  powerful 
intercessions  were  made  in  his  favor,  as  touched  many 
an  unfeeling  heart  and  drew  tears  from  many  a  hard 
eye  ;  but  Lord  Rawdon  and  Balfour  continued  firm 
in  their  determination. 

The  colonel  was  repeatedly  visited  by  his  friends, 
and  conversed  on  various  subjects  with  a  becoming 
fortitude.  He  particularly  lamented  that,  on  prin 
ciples  of  retaliation,  his  execution  would  probably  be 
an  introduction  to  the  shedding  of  much  innocent 
blood.  He  requested  those  in  whom  the  supreme 
power  was  vested,  to  accommodate  the  mode  of  his 
death  to  his  feelings  as  an  officer ;  but  this  was  refus 
ed.  On  the  last  evening  of  his  life  he  told  a  friend 
that  he  was  no  more  alarmed  at  the  thoughts  of  death, 
than  at  any  other  occurrence  which  was  necessary 
and  unavoidable. 

On  receiving  his  summons  on  the  morning  of 
August  the  4th,  to  proceed  to  the  place  of  execu 
tion,  he  delivered  to  his  eldest  son,  a  youth  of  about 
thirteen  years  of  age,  several  papers  relative  to  his 
case,  and  said — "  Present  these  papers  to  Mrs.  Ed 
wards,  with  my  request  that  she  should  forward  them 
to  her  brother  in  Congress.  You^will  next  repair  to 
the  place  of  execution,  receive  my  body,  and  see  it  de 
cently  interred  among  my  forefathers."  They  took 
a  final  leave.  The  colonel's  arms  were  pinioned, 


356  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

and  a  guard  placed  round  his  person.  The  proces 
sion  began  from  the  Exchange  in  the  forenoon.  The 
streets  were  crowded  with  thousands  of  anxious  spec 
tators.  He  walked  to  the  place  of  execution  with 
such  decent  firmness,  composure  and  dignity,  as  to 
awaken  the  compassion  of  many,  and  command  respect 
from  all.  When  the  city  harrier  was  past  and  the 
instrument  of  his  catastrophe  appeared  in  full  view, 
a  faithful  friend  by  his  side  observed  to  him,  that  he 
hoped  he  would  exhibit  an  example  of  the  manner 
in  which  an  American  can  die.  He  answered  with 
the  utmost  tranquillity — "  I  will  endeavor  to  do  so." 
He  ascended  the  cart  with  a  firm  step  and  serene 
aspect.  He  inquired  of  the  executioner,  who  was 
making  an  attempt  to  get  up  to  pull  the  cap  over  his 
eyes,  what  he  wanted.  On  being  informed,  the  colo 
nel  replied — iel  will  save  you  the  trouble,"  and 
pulled  the  cap  over  himself.  He  was  afterwards 
asked,  whether  he  wished  to  say  any  thing,  to  which 
he  answered — "  I  will  only  take  leave  of  iny  friends, 
and  be  ready."  He  then  affectionately  shook  hands 
with  three  gentlemen,  recommending  his  children  to 
their  care,  and  gave  the  signal  for  the  cart  to  move. 
Thus  fell  Colonel  Isaac  Hayne  in  the  bloom  of  life, 
furnishing  that  example  in  death,  which  extorted  a 
confession  from  his  enemies,  that  though  he  did  not 
die  in  a  good  cause,  he  must  at  least  have  acted  from 
a  persuasion  of  its  being  so.* 

*  The  tragical  story  of  Colonel  Hayne,  is  not  complete  without  add 
ing  from  a  recent  publication  by  Alexander  Garden,  Esq.  the  following 
particulars.  u  Irregularities  in  the  mode  of  conducting  the  war,  in  the 
highest  degree  disgraceful  to  the  American  cause,  had  frequently  oc 
curred.  No  man  lamented  them  with  greater  sincerity  than  Colonel 
Hayne,  for  none  more  anxiously  wished  the  American  character  to  be 
free  from  reproach.  Soon,  then,  as  solicited  by  his  neighbors,  and  the 
inhabitants  generally  of  (he  district,  to  resume  a  hostile  position,  to 
become  their  leader,  and  direct  their  operations  against  the  enemy,  he 
made  an  honorable  and  open  declaration  :  u  that  he  could  only  be  in 
duced  to  comply  with  their  wishes,  by  obtaining  a  solemn  promise  from 
all  who  were  to  serve  under  him,  that  an  immediate  stop  should  be  put  to 
every  unnecessary  severity  ;  a  desideratum  the  more  to  be  insisted  on, 
as  he  was  resolved  that  exemplary  punishment  should  be  inflicted  on 
every  individual  who  should  indulge  in  pillage,  or  in  committing  any 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  357 

The  execution  of  the  worthy  Colonel  Hayne,  is 
universally  reprobated  as  an  act  of  barbarity,  justified 
neither  by  civil  nor  military  law,  and  as  an  unexam 
pled  outrage  on  the  principles  of  morality  and  Chris 
tian  benevolence ;  but  in  the  view  of  the  British  com 
manders,  the  application  of  their  hackneyed  term, 
rebel,  sanctions  a  departure  from  all  laws  both  human 
and  divine.  In  August,  1780,  Lord  Cornwallis  in  ad 
dressing  one  of  his  officers,  says,  "  I  have  given  or 
ders,  that  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  province  who 
had  submitted,  and  who  have  taken  part  in  its  re 
volt,  shall  be  punished  with  the  greatest  rigor — that 
they  shall  be  imprisoned,  and  their  whole  property 
taken  from  them  or  destroyed.  I  have  ordered  in 
the  most  positive  manner,  that  every  militia  man, 
who  had  borne  arms  with  us,  and  afterwards  joined 
the  enemy,  shall  be  immediately  hanged,  and  have 
now,  Sir,  only  to  desire  that  you  will  take  the  most 
vigorous  measures  to  extinguish  the  rebellion,  and 
that  you  will  obey  in  the  strictest  manner,  the  direc 
tions  given  in  this  letter."  It  is  on  the  authority  of 
the  order  just  quoted,  that  Lord  Rawdon  and  Colonel 

act  of  inhumanity  against  the  foe."  A  copy  of  the  address  made  to  his 
soldiers  on  this  occasion  was  found  on  him  at  the  period  of  his  cap 
tivity  ;  but  though  it  forcibly  expressed  his  abhorrence  of  crime,  and  was 
replete  with  sentiments  that  did  honor  to  his  humanity,  it  a\ ailed  not 
to  soften  the  rigor  of  persecution,  nor  in  the  slightest  degree  to  mitigate 
the  severity  of  the  punishment  denounced  against  him.  When  the 
paper  which  contained  this  honorable  testimony  of  generous  feeling  was 
presented  to  Major  McKenzie,  who  sat  as  president  of  the  tribunal 
before  which  Colonel  Hayne  was  arraigned,  he,  with  great  expres 
sion  of  sensibility,  requested  the  prisoner  u  to  retain  it  till  he  should  be 
brought  before  the  court  martial  that  was  to  determine  his  fate," 
assuring  him  "  that  the  present  court  were  only  directed  to  inquire, 
whether  or  not  he  acknowledged  himself  to  be  the  individual  who  had 
taken  protection.11  It  is  unnecessary  to  add,  that  this  trial  was  never 
granted.  Lord  llawdon  reached  the  city  from  the  interior  country, 
and  at  his  command,  an  order  for  immediate  execution  was  i.-Hied. 
Little  aid  the  sympathy  that  melted  every  heart  to  tenderness — little 
did  the  pathetic  address  ^of  the  lovely  daughters  of  the  soil,  calculated 
to  move  even  the  bosom  of  obduracy,  avail.  Heedless  of  the  prayers 
and  solicitations  of  his  afflicted  friends  and  relatives,  deaf  to  the  cries 
of  his  children,  who  even  with  bended  knees  interceded  for  mercy,  in 
sensible  to  the  dictates  of  humanity,  his  resolution  was  fixed  as  ada 
mant,  and  a  hero  was  sacrificed." 


358  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

Balfour  justify  their  cruel  execution  of  Colonel  Hayne, 
and  it  will  be  difficult  to  calculate  the  number  of 
miserable  wretches  who  have  fallen  sacrifices  to  the 
same  relentless  spirit ;  nor  are  the  mandates  of  Lord 
Rawdon  less  sanguinary,  as  will  appear  by  the  fol 
lowing  specimen. 

Extract  of  a  letter  to  Colonel  Rugely,  commanding 
the  British  militia,  near  Camden. 

(i  If  attachment  to  their  sovereign  will  not  move 
the  country  people  to  check  a  crime  so  disastrous  to 
the  service,  desertion,  it  must  be  my  care  to  urge 
them  to  their  duty,  as  good  subjects,  by  using  in 
variable  severity  against  every  one  who  shall  show  so 
criminal  a  neglect  of  the  public  interest.  If  any  per 
son  meet  a  soldier,  straggling  without  a  written  pass 
beyond  the  picquets,  and  shall  not  do  his  utmost  to 
secure  him,  or  shall  not  spread  an  alarm  for  this  pur 
pose,  or  if  any  person  shall  give  shelter  to  soldiers 
straggling  as  above  mentioned,  or  shall  serve  them  as 
a  guide,  or  shall  furnish  them  with  passes,  or  any 
other  assistance,  the  persons  so  offending  may  assure 
themselves  of  rigorous  punishment,  as  by  whipping, 
imprisonment,  or  by  being  sent  to  serve  in  the  West 
Indies,  according  as  /  shall  think  the  degree  of  crimi 
nality  may  require ;  for  I  have  ordered  that  every 
soldier  who  passes  the  picquet,  shall  submit  himself 
to  be  examined,  by  any  militia  man  who  has  a  sus 
picion  of  him.  If  a  soldier,  therefore,  attempts  to 
escape,  when  ordered  by  a  militia  man  to  stop,  he  is 
immediately  to  be  fired  on  as  a  deserter.  I  will  give 
ten  guineas  for  the  head  of  any  deserter  belonging 
to  the  volunteers  of  Ireland,  and  five  guineas  only 
if  he  be  brought  alive." 

But  the  strong  measures  which  they  pursued  to 
crush  the  rebellion  has  produced  a  contrary  effect, 
and  lighted  a  flame  which  rages  with  tenfold  violence, 
and  which  will  eventually  afford  an  essential  aid  in 
the  establishment  of  our  Independence. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  359 

For  some  months  previous  to  the  capture  of  Corn- 
wallis,  and  while  his  army  was  traversing  the  states 
of  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia,  he  was  opposed  by  the 
Marquis  de  la  Fayette  with  an  inferior  force.     His 
Lordship   having  received  a  reinforcement,  was  so 
confident  of  success  against  his  opponent,  that  he  un 
guardedly  wrote  in  a  letter,  which  was  afterwards 
intercepted,   "  the  boy  cannot  escape  me;"  but  he 
was  disappointed  in  his  sanguine  expectations.    Corn- 
wallis  at  one  time  formed  a  plan  to  surprize  the  Mar 
quis  while  on  the  same  side  of  James  river  with  him 
self,  but  the  attempt  was  prevented  by  the  following 
incident.     The  Marquis,  unapprized  of  the  particu 
lar  situation  of  his  opponent,  contrived  to  send  into 
his  camp,  a  spy  to  obtain  intelligence.     A  soldier 
belonging  to  New  Jersey,  by  the  name  of  Charles 
Morgan,  generally  called  Charley,  agreed  to  under 
take  this  hazardous  service  ;  but  insisted  that,  in  case 
he  should  be  discovered  and  hanged,  the  Marquis, 
to  secure  his  reputation,  should  have  it  inserted  in 
the  New  Jersey  paper,  that  he  was  employed  in  the 
service  of  his  commander.     Having  reached  the  royal 
camp,  he   was  soon   introduced  .into  his  Lordship's 
presence,  who  inquired  the  reason  of  his  deserting. 
Charley  replied,  "that  he  had  been  in  the  continental 
service  from  the  beginning,  and  while  under  Washing 
ton  he  was  well  satisfied  :  but  being  now  commanded 
by  a  Frenchman  he  was  displeased  with  it  and  had 
quitted  the  service."     His  Lordship  commended  and 
rewarded    him    for   his   conduct,  and  Charley  soon 
commenced   the   double   duty  of  soldier  under  the 
English  commander,  and  a  spy  in  the  employment  of 
the  Marquis,  without  suspicion.      Lord  Cornwallis, 
while  in  conversation  with  several  of  his  officers,  in 
quired  of  Charley,  how  long  a  time  it  would  take  for 
the  Marquis  to  cross  James  river  ?  pausing  a  moment, 
he  replied,  "  three  hours,  my  Lord."     His  Lordship 
exclaimed,  "  three  hours !  it  will  take  three  days." 
"  No,  my  Lord,"  said  Charley,  "  the  Marquis  has 


360  MIL  IT  AH  V    JOURNAL,  1781. 

such  a  number  of  boats,  and  each  boat  will  carry  so 
many  men ;  if  you  will  please  to  calculate,  you  will 
find  he  can  pass  in  three  hours."  His  Lordship  turn 
ing  to  the  officers  said,  "  the  scheme  will  not  do." 
After  having  obtained  the  information  required, 
Morgan  began  to  prepare  for  a  return  to  the  Mar 
quis,  and  he  prevailed  with  several  British  soldiers 
to  desert  with  him.  When  challenged  by  the  senti 
nels,  he  artfully  tampered  with  them  by  giving  them 
rum,  and  while  drinking  he  seized  their  arms  and 
then  compelled  them  to  go,  and  this  brave  fellow 
actually  brought  off  seven  deserters  to  our  camp.  On 
his  return  to  head  quarters,  the  Marquis  accosted 
him  with  "  well  Charley,  have  you  got  back  ?" 
"  Yes,  please  your  Excellency,  and  have  brought 
seven  men  with  me."  Having  communicated  his  in 
formation,  the  Marquis  offered  to  reward  him,  but 
he  declined  receiving  money,  and  when  it  was  pro 
posed  to  promote  him  to  a  corporal  or  sergeant,  he 
replied,  "  I  have  ability  to  discharge  the  duties  of  a 
commom  soldier,  and  my  character  stands  fair,  but 
should  I  be  promoted,  I  may  fail,  and  lose  my  repu 
tation."  He,  however,  requested  that  his  destitute 
comrades  who  came  with  him,  might  be  furnished 
with  shoes  and  clothing,  which  was  readily  granted. 

A  warm  action  took  place  early  in  September, 
between  General  Greene  and  the  main  body  of  the 
royal  army,  under  Colonel  Stuart,  at  Eutaw  springs. 
Though  inferior  in  force,  General  Greene  sought  the 
enemy  and  made  a  furious  attack  ;  the  battle  became 
general  and  continued  four  hours,  it  was  the  hottest, 
and  the  most  bloody,  for  the  numbers  engaged,  that 
General  Greene  ever  witnessed  ;  many  of  the  officers 
combated  sword  to  sword,  and  the  soldiers  rushing 
together,  with  the  point  of  the  bayonet  contended 
with  increased  rage  and  effort,  for  life,  for  blood 
and  carnage.  A  party  of  the  enemy  possessed  them 
selves  of  a  three  story  brick  house  and  a  picketed 
garden,  which  gave  them  considerable  advantage, 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  361 

and  saved  their  army  from  a  total  rout.  In  a  charge 
which  decided  the  fate  of  the  day  in  our  favor,  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Campbell,  of  the  Virginia  line,  who 
with  undaunted  firmness  was  leading  on  his  brigade, 
received  a  mortal  wound,  and  on  being  informed  that 
the  enemy  were  flying  in  ail  quarters  said,  6(  I  die 
contented."  Lieutenant  Colonel  Washington  had 
his  horse  killed  under  him,  was  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.  The  American  loss  is  not  less  than  sixty 
commissioned  officers  killed  and  wounded,  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty  rank  and  file  killed,  and  three  hun 
dred  and  forty  wounded  or  missing.  The  loss  on  the 
side  of  the  British  is  supposed  to  be  fully  equal  in 
point  of  numbers,  excepting  in  officers,  and  five  hun 
dred  men  including  seventy  wounded  which  were 
left,  were  the  next  day  made  prisoners  by  our  army. 
Victory  is  claimed  by  both  commanders,  but  the  con 
sequences  have  proved  most  disastrous  to  the  enemy, 
for  the  next  day  Colonel  Stuart  destroyed  a  large 
quantity  of  stores,  abandoned  his  position,  and  leaving 
one  thousand  stand  of  arms  and  seventy  wounded 
men,  retired  in  haste  towards  Charleston. 

31st. — Our  troops  are  now  employed  in  embark 
ing  the  artillery  and  stores  on  board  of  transports, 
and  we  are  soon  to  proceed  by  water  to  the  head  of 
Elk  river,  on  our  way  to  the  North  river.  Dined 
with  General  Hazen,  in  company  with  a  number  of 
officers  both  American  and  French.  Here  we  en 
joyed  a  profusion  of  mutual  congratulations  on  our  late 
glorious  success,  and  this  was  the  chief  topic  of  con 
versation.  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  officers  since 
their  capitulation,  have  received  all  the  civilities  and 
hospitality  which  is  in  the  power  of  their  conquerors 
to  bestow.  General  Washington,  Count  Rocham- 
beau,  and  other  general  officers  have  frequently  in 
vited  them  to  entertainments,  and  they  have  express 
ed  their  grateful  acknowledgments  in  return.  They 
cannot  avoid  feeling  the  striking  contrast  between 
the  treatment  which  they  now  experience,  and  that. 
46 


362  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

which  they  have  bestowed  on  our  prisoners  who  have 
unfortunately  fallen  into  their  hands.  It  is  a  dictate 
of  humanity  and  benevolence  after  sheathing  the 
sword,  to  relieve  and  meliorate  the  condition  of  the 
vanquished  prisoner. 

On  one  occasion,  while  in  the  presence  of  General 
Washington,  Lord  Cornwallis  was  standing  with  his 
head  uncovered,  his  Excellency  said  to  him  politely, 
••My  Lord,  you  had  better  be  covered  from  the 
cold ;"  his  Lordship  applying  his  hand  to  his  head 
replied,  "  it  matters  not,  Sir,  what  becomes  of  this 
head  now" 

November  3d. — While  our  soldiers  were  loading 
a  quantity  of  bombs  and  shot  on  board  of  transports, 
a  shell  burst,  by  which  one  man  was  unfortunately 
killed  and  two  dangerously  wounded.  It  is  much  to 
be  lamented  that  these  brave  men,  whose  lives  have 
been  preserved  through  the  dangers  of  the  siege, 
should  meet  their  adverse  fate  in  such  a  manner. 
Orders  are  now  received  for  our  regiment  of  infantry 
to  embark  on  board  the  Diligence,  a  French  frigate  of 
thirty  two  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  Cleough- 
naugh,  bound  up  the  Chesapeake,  to  the  head  of  Elk 
river.  Major  Nathan  Rice  commands  our  regi 
ment. 

December. — We  sailed  from  York  river  on  the  4th 
of  November,  and  in  consequence  of  severe  storms 
and  contrary  winds,  our  voyage  was  very  unpleasant 
and  protracted  to  sixteen  days,  which  has  often  been 
performed  in  three.  Captain  Cleoughnaugh  and  his 
officers  were  very  polite  and  accommodating,  we  dined 
constantly  at  the  table  of  the  captain,  and  shared  with 
him  in  his  store  of  wine,  &c.  It  happened  unfor 
tunately  that  a  few  days  after  we  left  York,  four  of 
our  soldiers  were  seized  with  the  small  pox,  and  hav 
ing  on  board  about  eighty  men  who  were  liable  to 
receive  the  infection,  they  were  with  several  officers 
put  on  the  Virginia  shore,  to  inarch  round  by  land. 
We  disembarked  at  the  head  of  Elk,  on  the  20th  of 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  363 

November,  where  we  met  with  our  horses,  and  on 
the  24th,  we  commenced  our  march  to  the  highlands, 
near    West   Point.      Passed   through    Philadelphia, 
Trenton,  Princeton,  Bonbrook  and  Morristown,  and 
on  the  7th  instant,  crossed  the  Hudson  at  King's  ferry. 
On  account  of  the  inclemency  of  the  season  we  have 
suffered  exceedingly  from  cold,  wet  and  fatigue,  during 
our  long  march.     But  we  return  in  triumph  to  rejoin 
our  respective  regiments,  and  enjoy  a  constant  inter 
change  of  congratulations   with  our  friends,  on  the 
glorious  and  brilliant  success  of  our  expedition  which 
closes  the  campaign.     This  event  reflects  the  highest 
honor  on  our  combined  arms,  it  will  adorn  the  pages 
of  our  history,  and  we  fondly  hope  it  will  be  attended 
writh  the  most  favorable  consequences,  in  bringing  this 
long,  protracted  and  distressing  war  to  a  happy  ter 
mination.     It  will  be  to  me  a  source  of  inexpressible 
satisfaction,  that  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  par 
ticipating  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  a  British  army. 
It  is  among  the  blessed  privileges  and  richest  incidents 
of  my  life.     I  have  for  several  days  been  afflicted  with 
inflammatory  rheumatism,  attended  with  excruciating 
pains.     Having  no  other  covering  than  canvass  tents, 
and  the  weather  being  extremely  cold,  my  sufferings 
have  been  almost  insupportable  ;  but  I  have  much  less 
reason  to  complain  than  to  be  grateful  to  a  kind  Pro 
vidence,   that  I  have  enjoyed  uninterrupted  health 
during  my  seven  years  of  military  service. 

Since  my  return,  I  am  happy  to  learn  that  my 
friend  Major  Trescott,  of  our  regiment,  with  a  de 
tachment  of  one  hundred  men,  crossed  the  sound  to 
Long  Island  on  the  3d  of  October,  and  completely 
surprized  the  enemy's  fort  Slonge,  making  two  cap 
tains,  one  lieutenant,  and  eighteen  rank  and  file  pri 
soners  ;  of  the  enemy  two  were  killed  and  two  wound 
ed  ;  of  the  Americans  one  only  was  wounded.  Two 
double  fortified  four  pounders  were  damaged,  one 
brass  three  pounder,  with  a  number  of  small  arms,  am 
munition,  clothing,  English  goods,  &c.  were  brought 


364  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781. 

off.     This  enterprize  was  conducted  with  much  ad 
dress  and  gallantry,  reflecting  great  honor    on   the 
commander  and  his  little  party. 

By  report  from  the  northern  department,  the 
British  having  projected  an  attack  on  the  frontiers 
of  New  York  state,  were  advancing  towards  Albany 
through  the  settlements  on  the  Mohawk  river,  and 
commiting  great  depredations  among  the  inhabitants. 
The  party  was  commanded  by  Major  Ross,  and  con 
sisted  of  six  hundred  regular  rangers  and  Indians. 
Having,  on  the  25th  of  October,  advanced  as  far  as 
Johnstown,  they  were  met  by  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Willet,  at  the  head  of  a  regiment  of  New  York  levies, 
and  some  militia,  with  fabout  sixty  Oneida  Indians. 
This  officer  has  frequently  given  evidence  of  his 
valor  and  gallantry,  and  on  this  occasion  he  was  no 
less  fortunate  in  his  enterprize.  Having  directed 
Major  Rowly,  with  a  body  of  militia,  by  a  circuitous 
movement,  to  get  into  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  he  made 
a  vigorous  attack  in  front,  and  they  were  soon  totally 
defeated  and  driven  into  the  wilderness.  The  next 
day  a  party  of  our  people  and  Indians  followed  in 
pursuit  till  they  were  worn  down  by  fatigue.  It  was 
impossible  to  ascertain  the  number  of  the  enemy's 
slain,  but  their  loss  must  have  been  very  considerable. 
Fifty  two  prisoners  were  taken  and  brought  in,  and 
Major  Ross,  with  the  remainder  of  his  party,  escaped 
into  the  barren  wilderness,  where  they  must  have 
suffered  extremely  for  want  of  provisions.  The  loss 
on  the  side  of  Colonel  Willet,  is  one  lieutenant  and 
twelve  rank  and  file  killed,  one  captain,  two  lieuten 
ants,  and  twenty  rank  and  file  wounded.  Colonel 
Willet's  victory  is  rendered  more  important  by  the 
fall  of  the  notorious  Major  Butler,  who  has  long,  as  a 
partizan  officer  with  the  savages,  been  a  scourge  to 
the  frontier  inhabitants.  He  was  wounded  by  one  of 
our  Indians,  and  on  asking  for  quarters,  yes,  Cherry 
Valley  quarter,  said  the  Indian,  and  immediately  des 
patched  him.  He  alluded  to  Butler's  having  refused 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1781.  365 

quarter  to  our  people  at  Cherry  Valley,  in  Novem 
ber,  1778. 

When  Congress  received  General  Washington's 
letter,  announcing  the  surrender  of  the  British  army, 
they  resolved,  that  they  would  at  two  o'clock,  go  in 
procession  to  the  Dutch  Lutheran  Church,  and  return 
thanks  to  Almighty  God,  for  crowning  the  allied 
arms  with  success,  by  the  surrender  of  the  whole 
British  army,  under  the  command  of  Earl  Cornwallis. 
They  also  issued  a  proclamation  for  religiously 
observing  throughout  the  United  States  the  13th  of 
December,  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  and  prayer. 
They  resolved,  that  thanks  should  be  given  to  Gen 
eral  Washington,  Count  Rochambeau,  Count  de  Grasse 
and  the  officers  of  the  different  corps,  and  the  men 
under  their  command,  for  their  services  in  the  reduc 
tion  of  Lord  Cornwallis.  Also,  resolved,  to  erect  in 
Yorktown  a  marble  column  adorned  with  emblems 
of  the  alliance  between  the  United  States  and  his 
Most  Christian  Majesty,  and  inscribed  with  a  suc 
cinct  narrative  of  the  surrender  of  the  British  army. 
Two  stands  of  colors,  taken  from  the  royal  troops 
under  the  capitulation,  were  presented  to  General 
Washington  in  the  name  of  the  United  States  in 
Congress  assembled;  and  two  pieces  of  field  ord 
nance  so  taken,  were  by  a  resolve  of  Congress  to  be 
presented  by  General  Washington  to  Count  Rocham- 
beau,  with  a  short  memorandum  engraved  thereon, 
that  "  Congress  were  induced  to  present  them  from 
considerations  of  the  illustrious  part  which  he  bore 
in  effecting  the  surrender." 

The  Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  assembly 
and  council  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
number  of  principal  gentlemen  of  various  orders, 
having  been  invited  by  the  minister  of  France  to  be 
present  at  the  praises  offered  to  Heaven  in  the 
Catholic,  Church,  on  occasion  of  the  late  glorious 
success  of  the  allied  arms,  the  Jlbbe  Bandole,  Jllmo- 
ner  to  the  Embassy  of  His  Most  Christian  Majesty. 


366  MILITARY    JOURNAL,   1781. 

ascended  the  pulpit,  and  addressed  this  august 
assembly  in  the  following  discourse  ;  after  which 
a  Te  Dcum  was  sung. 

The  occasion  [was  in  this  hemisphere  singular 
and  affecting  ;  and  the  discourse  itself  is  so  elegant 
and  animated  in  the  French,  so  warm  with  those  sen 
timents  of  piety  and  gratitude  to  our  Divine  Benefac 
tor,  in  which  good  men  of  all  countries  accord,  and 
so  evidently  dictated  by  the  spirit  of  that  new  friend 
ship  and  alliance  from  which  such  important  advan 
tages  have  been  derived  to  the  rights  of  America,  as 
must  give  pleasure  to  every  serious  and  candid  friend 
to  our  glorious  cause* 

"  GENTLEMEN, —  A  numerous  people  assembled  to 
render  thanks  to  the  Almighty  for  his  mercies,  is  one 
of  the  most  affecting  objects,  and  worthy  the  attention 
of  the  Supreme  Being.  While  camps  resound  with 
triumphal  acclamations,  wrhile  nations  rejoice  in  vic 
tory  and  glory,  the  most  honorable  office  a  minister  of 
the  altar  can  fill,  is  to  be  the  organ  by  which  public 
gratitude  is  conveyed  to  the  Omnipotent. 

"  Those  miracles  which  he  once  wrought  for  his 
chosen  people,  are  renewed  in  our  favor;  and  it 
would  be  equally  ungrateful  and  impious  not  to  ac 
knowledge,  that  the  event  which  lately  confounded 
our  enemies,  and  frustrated  their  designs,  was  the 
wonderful  work  of  that  GOD  who  guards  your  liber 
ties. 

"  And  who  but  he  could  so  combine  the  circum 
stances  which  led  to  success  ?  We  have  seen  our 
enemies  push  forward  amid  perils  almost  innumera 
ble,  amid  obstacles  almost  insurmountable,  to  the  spot 
which  was  designed  to  witness  their  disgrace  ;  yet 
they  eagerly  sought  it,  as  their  theatre  of  triumph  ! 
Blind  as  they  w7ere,  they  bore  hunger,  thirst,  and 
inclement  skies,  poured  their  blood  in  battle  against 
brave  republicans,  and  crossed  immense  regions  to 
confine  themselves  in  another  Jericho,  whose  walls 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781.  367 

were  fated  to  fall  before  another  Joshua.  It  is  he, 
whose  voice  commands  the  winds,  the  seas,  and  the 
seasons,  who  formed  a  junction  on  the  same  day  in 
the  same  hour,  between  a  formidable  fleet  from  the 
south,  and  an  army  rushing  from  the  north,  like  an 
impetuous  torrent.  Who  but  he,  in  whose  hands  are 
the  hearts  of  men,  could  inspire  the  allied  troops 
with  the  friendship,  the  confidence,  the  tenderness  of 
brothers  ?  How  is  it  that  two  nations,  once  divided, 
jealous,  inimical,  and  nursed  in  reciprocal  prejudices, 
are  now  become  so  closely  united,  as  to  form  but  one? 
Worldlings  would  say,  it  is  the  wisdom,  the  virtue, 
and  moderation  of  their  chiefs,  it  is  a  great  national 
interest  which  has  performed  this  prodigy.  They 
will  say,  that  to  the  skill  of  the  generals,  to  the  cou 
rage  of  the  troops,  to  the  activity  of  the  whole  army, 
we  must  attribute  this  splendid  success.  Ah  !  they 
are  ignorant,  that  the  combining  of  so  many  fortunate 
circumstances,  is  an  emanation  from  the  all- perfect 
mind  ;  that  courage,  that  skill,  that  activity  bear  the 
sacred  impression  of  him  who  is  divine. 

66  For  how  many  favors  have  we  not  to  thank 
him  during  the  course  of  the  present  year  ?  Your 
union,  which  was  at  first  supported  by  justice  alone, 
has  been  consolidated  by  your  courage,  and  the  knot 
which  ties  you  together,  is  become  indissoluble,  by 
the  accession  of  all  the  states,  and  the  unanimous 
voice  of  all  the  confederates.  You  present  to  the 
universe  the  noble  sight  of  a  society,  which  founded 
in  equality  and  justice,  secure  to  the  individuals 
who  compose  it,  the  utmost  happiness  which  can  be 
derived  from  human  institutions.  This  advantage, 
which  so  many  other  nations  have  been  unable  to 
procure,  even  after  ages  of  efforts  and  misery,  is 
granted  by  Divine  Providence  to  the  United  States  ; 
and  his  adorable  decrees  have  marked  the  present 
moment  for  the  completion  of  that  memorable  happy 
revolution,  which  has  taken  place  in  this  extensive 
continent.  While  your  councils  were  thus  acquiring 


368  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1781. 

new  energy,  rapid  and  multiplied  successes  have 
crowned  your  arms  in  the  southern  states. 

"We  have  seen  the  unfortunate  citizens  of  these 
states  forced  from  their  peaceful  ahodes  ;  after  a 
long  and  cruel  captivity,  old  men,  women  and  chil 
dren  thrown,  without  mercy,  into  a  foreign  coun 
try.  Master  of  their  lands  and  their  slaves,  amid  his 
temporary  affluence,  a  superb  victor  rejoiced  in  their 
distresses.  But  Philadelphia  has  witnessed  their 
patience  and  fortitude ;  they  have  found  here  another 
home,  and  though  driven  from  their  native  soil,  they 
have  blessed  God,  that  he  has  delivered  them  from 
the  presence  of  their  enemy,  and  conducted  them 
to  a  country  where  every  just  and  feeling  man 
has  stretched  out  the  helping  hand  of  benevolence. 
Heaven  rewards  their  virtues.  These  large  states 
are  at  once  wrested  from  the  foe.  The  rapacious 
soldier  has  been  compelled  to  take  refuge  behind  his 
ramparts,  and  oppression  has  vanished  like  those 
phantoms  which  are  dissipated  by  the  morning  ray. 

"On  this  solemn  occasion,  we  might  renew  our 
thanks  to  the  God  of  battles,  for  the  success  he  has 
granted  to  the  arms  of  your  allies  and  your  friends 
by  land  and  by  sea,  through  the  other  parts  of  the 
globe.  But  let  us  not  recall  those  events,  which  too 
clearly  prove  how  much  the  hearts  of  our  enemies 
have  been  hardened.  Let  us  prostrate  ourselves  at 
the  altar  and  implore  the  God  of  mercy  to  suspend 
his  vengeance,  to  spare  them  in  his  wrath,  to  inspire 
them  with  sentiments  of  justice  and  moderation,  to 
terminate  their  obstinacy  and  error,  and  to  ordain 
that  your  victories  be  followed  by  peace  and  tran 
quillity.  Let  us  beseech  him  to  continue  to  shed  on 
the  councils  of  the  king,  your  ally,  that  spirit  of  wis 
dom,  of  justice,  and  of  courage,  which  has  ren 
dered  his  reign  so  glorious. — Let  us  entreat  him  to 
maintain  in  each  of  the  states,  that  intelligence  by 
which  the  United  States  are  inspired.  Let  us  return 
him  thanks  that  a  faction,  whose  rebellion  he  has 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782.  369 

corrected,  now  deprived  of  support,  is  annihilated. 
Let  us  offer  him  pure  hearts,  unsoiled  by  private 
hatred  or  public  dissention  ;  and  let  us,  with  one 
will  and  one  voice,  pour  forth  to  the  Lord  that  hymn 
of  praise,  by  which  Christians  celebrate  their  grati 
tude  and  his  glory." 

January )  1782. — The  huts  which  we  now  occupy 
wrere  erected  the  last  winter  by  some  of  the  Massachu 
setts  troops,  a  short  distance  from  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson,  and  called  New  Boston,  they  afford  us  a  very 
convenient  and  comfortable  accommodation.  Orders 
having  been  received  for  all  the  troops  that  have  not 
gone  through  the  small  pox  to  be  inoculated,  I  com 
menced  this  business  a  few  weeks  since,  and  inocu 
lated  about  two  hundred,  including  women  and  chil 
dren.  Their  accommodations  were  not  such  as  their 
circumstances  required ;  we  were  unprovided  with 
proper  articles  of  diet,  and  a  considerable  number 
were  seized  with  putrid  fever,  which  proved  fatal  in 
several  instances. 

March  Wth. — A  singular  incident  occurred  in  the 
sixth  regiment  to  day.  Two  soldiers  were  eating 
soup  together,  and  one  forbid  the  other  eating  any 
more  ;  as  he  did  not  desist,  his  comrade  gave  him  a 
blow  with  his  fist  on  the  side  of  his  head,  on  which 
he  fell  to  the  ground  and  instantly  expired.  On  close 
examination,  I  could  discover  no  bruise  or  injury 
which  could  enable  me  to  account  satisfactorily  for 
his  death. 

An  unhappy  controversy  has  subsisted  for  some 
time  between  Captain  H.  and  Lieutenant  S.  both 
of  the  first  Massachusetts  regiment.  Captain  H.  was 
esteemed  a  man  of  modest  merit  and  unexceptionable 
character,  he  has  long  commanded  a  company  and 
proved  himself  brave  in  the  field,  and  a  good  dis 
ciplinarian.  Lieutenant  S.  though  a  good  active 
officer,  is  assuming,  high  spirited  and  values  him 
self  on  what  he  deems  the  principles  of  honor 
and  the  gentleman.  Having  imbibed  a  strong  pre- 
47 


370  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1782. 

judice  against  his  captain,  and  probably  calculating 
on  promotion,  he  took  unjustifiable  liberties,  and  in 
violation  of  honor  and  decency  aspersed  his  character 
with  unfounded  calumnies.  The  friends  of  the 
parties  interposed  and  endeavored  to  effect  a  recon 
ciliation.  S.  affected  an  acquiescence;  in  consequence 
of  which  the  contention  apparently  subsided.  But 
still  retaining  in  his  breast  the  old  grudge,  he  renew 
ed  his  calumnies  and  was  determined  to  provoke  his 
captain  to  a  personal  combat :  and  though  contrary 
to  his  nature,  and  to  his  principles,  he  was  compelled 
to  the  alternative.  Captain  H.  obtained  a  furlough, 
visited  his  friends  in  Massachusetts,  made  his  will, 
and  arranged  his  worldly  affairs.  Having  returned 
to  camp  it  was  agreed  to  meet  in  the  field  according 
to  the  rules  of  duelling.  The  tragical  result  is,  that 
Captain  H.  received  a  mortal  wound  and  died  in 
three  hours  after,  and  S.  escaped  with  a  wound  in 
his  arm.  Thus  has  this  imperious  young  man,  to 
gratify  a  sordid  passion,  sent  into  eternity  a  man 
whom  he  ought  to  have  respected  as  his  superior  in 
every  point  of  view — deprived  the  public  of  a  valu 
able  officer,  and  a  wife  and  three  children  of  a  hus 
band  and  father.  Barbarous  and  cruel  murderer ! 
you  have  violated  the  laws  of  God  and  man,  should 
you  escape  punishment  in  this  life,  what  must  be 
your  doom  in  the  awful  day  of  retribution?  The 
friends  of  Captain  H.  in  Massachusetts  manifested 
their  abhorrence  of  this  murderous  deed,  and  endea 
vored  by  a  legal  process  to  bring  S.  to  condign  pun 
ishment.  They  procured  a  sheriff  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  where  the  crime  was  committed,  who 
repaired  to  camp  with  assistance,  took  the  oppor 
tunity  when  the  regiment  was  on  parade,  and  de 
manded  of  the  colonel  that  S.  should  be  delivered 
up  to  the  civil  authority.  The  colonel  reluctantly 
pointed  out  the  man,  the  sheriff  advanced  towards 
him,  and  S.,  soldier  like,  unsheathed  his  sword  and 
stood  in  defiance.  The  sheriff,  unaccustomed  to  the 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782.  371 

sword,  was  intimidated,  and  finally  retired  from  the 
field  without  the  prisoner.* 

April  5th. — Having  completed  the  inoculation  of 
the  soldiers  and  attended  them  through  the  small 
pox,  and  my  professional  duty  being  considerably 
diminished,  I  have  obtained  a  furlough  for  forty  five 
days  to  visit  my  friends  in  Massachusetts,  and  shall 
tomorrow  commence  my  journey  to  Boston,  in  com 
pany  with  my  friend,  Dr.  Eustis. 

May  30th.- — I  returned  to  New  Boston  last  even 
ing  from  Boston,  having  been  absent  forty  four  days, 
which  is  one  day  short  of  my  furlough  ;  our  journey 
to  Boston  occupied  nine  days,  being  impeded  by  foul 
weather  and  bad  roads.  We  were  on  horseback,  at 
tended  by  a  servant,  and  took  our  route  through  Con 
necticut  and  Providence.  Here  we  spent  a  pleasant 
evening  with  Lieutenant  Governor  Bowen,  he  and 
Dr.  Eustis  engaged  in  conversation  respecting  the  pro 
perties  of  coffee ;  Governor  Bowen,  asserted,  that  it  is 
a  sedative,  while  the  Dr.  contended  for  its  stimulant 
effects,  and  he  certainly  had  the  best  of  the  argument. 
Having  arrived  at  Boston,  Dr.  Eustis  kindly  intro 
duced  me  to  his  father's  family,  where  I  received  hos 
pitable  and  polite  civilities.  I  proceeded  to  Plymouth 
and  Barnstable,  where  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  a  family 
interview,  after  an  absence  of  four  years.  Great  pre 
parations  are  making  at  West  Point,  to  celebrate  the 
birth  of  the  young  Dauphin  of  France  ;  being  in  alli 
ance  with  his  Most  Christian  Majesty,  propriety  re 
quires  that  we  should  celebrate  the  joyous  event  of 
the  birth  of  his  first  son.  His  Excellency  General 
Washington,  has  in  general  orders,  given  an  invita 
tion  to  all  oflicers  of  the  army,  and  they  are  request 
ed  to  invite  any  friends  or  acquaintance  they  may 


*  In  the  year  1786,  a  regiment  was  raised  in  Ihe  state  of  Massachu 
setts  for  the  purpose  of  an  Indian  expedition.  Lieutenant  S.  present 
ed  his  pretensions  as  a  candidate  for  a  commission,  but  notwithstatKiing 
a  respectable  recommendation  from  several  general  officers,  the  Gov 
ernor  and  council  rejected  the  application  M'ith  disdain. 


372  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782. 

have  in  the  country  to  participate  in  the  grand 
festival. 

On  the  6th  instant,  a  dangerous  mutiny  was  dis 
covered  among  the  soldiers  of  the  Connecticut  line. 
It  had  been  conducted  with  so  much  address  and 
secrecy,  that  it  was  on  the  point  of  execution  before 
it  was  divulged.  The  defection  was  general  in  the 
line,  the  soldiers  had  determined  at  reveille  the  next 
morning,  to  have  marched  from  their  cantonments 
with  arms,  &c.  complete,  for  Fishkill,  where  they 
intended  to  take  a  number  of  field  pieces  with  am 
munition  and  provisions,  and  proceed  to  Hartford, 
and  there  demand  of  the  Assembly  that  justice  which 
they  consider  their  due.  At  the  moment  the  officers 
were  retiring  to  bed,  a  faithful  soldier  who  was  a 
waiter,  informed  his  officer,  that  he  could  not  retire 
to  rest  without  divulging  an  event  which  would  as 
suredly  take  place  the  next  morning  at  day  light. 
The  most  guilty  soldiers  were  immediately  seized  and 
confined,  and  the  ringleader  was  sentenced  to  suffer 
death,  which  happily  frustrated  the  whole  design. 
It  is  but  just  to  observe,  that  the  Connecticut  line 
of  troops  have  during  the  war,  except  in  this  in 
stance,  conducted  in  a  very  exemplary  and  merito 
rious  manner. 

June  1st. — Yesterday  was  celebrated  the  birth  of 
the  Dauphin  of  France,  by  a  magnificent  festival. 
The  edifice  under  which  the  company  assembled  and 
partook  of  the  entertainment,  was  erected  on  the 
plain  at  West  Point.  The  situation  was  romantic, 
and  the  occasion  novel  and  interesting.  Major  Ville- 
franche,  an  ingenious  French  engineer,  has  been  em 
ployed  with  one  thousand  men  about  ten  days,  in 
constructing  the  curious  edifice.  It  is  composed  of 
the  simple  materials  which  the  common  trees  in  this 
vicinity  aiford.  It  is  about  six  hundred  feet  in  length 
and  thirty  feet  wide,  supported  by  a  grand  colonnade 
of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  pillars,  made  of  the 
trunks  of  trees.  The  covering  of  the  roof  consists  of 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782.  373 

boughs,  or  branches  of  trees  curiously  interwoven, 
and  the  same  materials  form  the  walls,  leaving  the 
ends  entirely  open.  On  the  inside,  every  pillar  was 
encircled  with  muskets  and  bayonets  bound  round  in 
a  fanciful  and  handsome  manner,  and  the  whole  in 
terior  was  decorated  with  evergreens,  with  American 
and  French  military  colors,  and  a  variety  of  emblems 
and  devices,  all  adjusted  in  such  style  as  to  beautify 
the  whole  interior  of  the  fabric.  This  superb  struc 
ture,  in  symmetry  of  proportion,  neatness  of  work 
manship,  arid  elegance  of  arrangement,  has  seldom 
perhaps  been  surpassed  on  any  temporary  occasion ; 
it  affected  the  spectators  with  admiration  and  plea 
sure,  and  reflects  much  credit  on  the  taste  and  ability 
of  Major  Villefranche.  Several  appropriate  mottos 
decorated  the  grand  edifice,  pronouncing  benedic 
tions  on  the  Dauphin  and  happiness  to  the  two  allied 
nations.  The  whole  army  was  paraded  on  the  con 
tiguous  hills  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  forming  a 
circle  of  several  miles  in  open  view  of  the  public 
edifice,  and  at  the  given  signal  of  firing  three  cannon^ 
the  regimental  officers  all  left  their  commands  arid 
repaired  to  the  building  to  partake  of  the  entertain 
ment  which  had  been  prepared  by  order  of  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief.  At  five  o'clock,  dinner  being  on 
the  table,  his  Excellency  General  Washington,  and 
his  lady  and  suite,  the  principal  officers  of  the  army 
and  their  ladies,  Governor  Clinton  and  his  lady,  and 
a  number  of  respectable  characters  from  the  states  of 
New  York  and  New  Jersey,  moved  from  Major 
General  McDougalFs  quarters  through  the  line  form 
ed  by  Colonel  Grain's  regiment  of  artillery,  to  the 
arbor,  where  more  than  five  hundred  gentlemen  and 
ladies  partook  of  a  magnificent  festival.  A  martial 
band  charmed  our  senses  with  music,  while  we  feast 
ed  our  appetites  and  gazed  with  admiration  on  the 
illustrious  guests,  and  the  novel  spectacle  exhibited 
to  our  view.  The  cloth  being  removed,  thirteen 
appropriate  toasts  were  drank,  each  one  being  an- 


374  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782. 

nounced  by  the  discharge  of  thirteen  cannon  and 
accompanied  by  music.  The  guests  retired  from 
the  table  at  seven  o'clock,  and  the  regimental  officers 
repaired  to  their  respective  commands.  The  arbor 
was,  in  the  evening,  illuminated  by  a  vast  number  of 
lights,  which  being  arranged  in  regular  and  tasteful 
order,  exhibited  a  scene  vicing  in  brilliancy  with  the 
starry  firmament.  The  officers  having  rejoined  their 
regiments,  thirteen  cannon  were  again  fired  as  a  pre 
lude  to  a  general  feu  de  joie,  which  immediately 
succeeded  throughout  the  whole  line  of  the  army  on 
the  surrounding  hills,  and  being  three  times  repeated, 
the  mountains  resounded  and  echoed  like  tremendous 
peals  of  thunder,  and  the  flashing  from  thousands  of 
fire  arms  in  the  darkness  of  evening,  could  be  com 
pared  only  to  the  most  vivid  flashes  of  lightning  from 
the  clouds.  The  feu  de  joie  was  immediately  follow 
ed  by  three  shouts  of  acclamation  and  benediction  for 
the  Dauphin,  by  the  united  voices  of  the  whole 
army  on  all  sides.  At  half  past  eleven  o'clock,  the 
celebration  was  concluded  by  the  exhibition  of  fire 
wrorks  very  ingeniously  constructed  of  various  figures. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington  was  unusually 
cheerful.  He  attended  the  ball  in  the  evening  and 
with  a  dignified  and  graceful  air,  having  Mrs.  Knox 
for  his  partner,  carried  down  a  dance  of  twenty  couple 
in  the  arbor  on  the  green  grass. 

June  20th. — Dined  by  invitation  with  Major  Gen 
eral  Howe,  at  his  quarters  at  Robinson's  house,  with 
several  respectable  guests. 

23d. — The  officers  of  our  regiment  prepared  an 
entertainment  and  invited  a  respectable  party.  At 
three  o'clock,  we  repaired  to  an  arbor  erected  for 
the  occasion,  under  which  a  long  table  was  spread, 
and  a  variety  of  dishes  arranged  in  proper  style ;  we 
prided  ourselves  on  our  camp  dinner  as  being  almost 
on  a  par  with  that  of  a  country  gentleman.  A  band 
of  military  music  attended,  and  we  finished  with  toasts 
and  songs  in  social  glee. 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782.  375 

July. — Our  brigade  moved  out  of  huts  on  the  first 
instant,  and  encamped  at  Nelsoivs  point,  on  the  bank 
of  the  Hudson  opposite  West  Point. 

On  the  4th,  the  anniversary  of  the  declaration  of 
our  Independence  was  celebrated  in  camp.  The 
whole  army  was  formed  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson 
on  each  side  of  the  river.  The  signal  of  thirteen 
cannon  being  given  at  West  Point,  the  troops  dis 
played  and  formed  in  a  line,  when  a  general  feu  de 
joie  took  place  throughout  the  whole  army. 

A  most  barbarous  and  horrid  transaction  of  the 
royal  refugees  a  few  weeks  since,  has  excited  univer 
sal  indignation  throughout  our  army.  It  is  the  cruel 
murder  of  Captain  Joshua  Huddy,  of  New  Jersey, 
who,  being  commanding  officer  of  a  detachment 
stationed  at  the  block  house  in  Momnouth  county,  was 
attacked  by  a  party  of  refugees  from  New  York,  on 
Sunday,  the  24th  March,  and  after  bravely  defending 
himself  till  he  had  expended  his  ammunition,  was 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  into  New  York.  He  was 
closely  confined  till  April  8th,  when  without  even 
the  form  of  a  trial,  he  was  told  that  he  was  ordered 
to  be  hanged  ;  accordingly  on  the  12th,  he  was  car 
ried  over  to  the  New  Jersey  shore,  by  a  party  of 
refugees  under  the  direction  of  one  Captain  Lippin- 
cot,  and  there  hung  on  a  tree  and  left  with  the  fol 
lowing  label  affixed  on  his  breast.  "  We  the  refugees, 
having  with  grief  long  beheld  the  cruel  murders  of 
our  brethren,  and  finding  nothing  but  such  measures 
daily  carrying  into  execution — we  therefore,  deter 
mine  not  to  suffer  without  taking  vengeance  for  the 
numerous  cruelties ;  and  thus  begin,  and  I  say,  may 
those  lose  their  liberty  who  do  not  follow  on,  and 
have  made  use  of  Captain  Huddy  as  the  first  object 
to  present  to  your  view  ;  and  further  determine  to 
hang  man  for  man  while  there  is  a  refugee  existing. 
Up  goes  Huddy  for  Philip  White." 

The  refugees  pretend  to  justify  this  violent  act,  by 
asserting  that  Captain  Huddy,  some  time  before*. 


376  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1782. 

made  prisoner  of  a  certain  Philip  White,  of  their 
party,  and  after  having  maimed  him,  broke  both  his 
legs,  and  tauntingly  bid  him  run.  But  this  is  a  vile 
falsehood;  it  has  been  fully  proved,  that  Captain 
Huddy  was  closely  confined  a  prisoner  at  New  York 
at  the  time  and  for  many  days  before  White  was 
taken.  A  letter  dated  at  Freehold,  Mon mouth 
county,  15th  April  last,  and  published  in  the  Tren 
ton  paper,  relates  that  White  was  taken  the  last  of 
March,  and  after  tokens  of  surrendering  as  a  prisoner, 
he  took  up  a  musket  and  killed  a  son  of  Colonel  Hen- 
drickson  ;  but  being  taken  by  some  light  horse,  and 
while  they  were  conducting  him  to  Freehold,  he  again 
attempted  to  make  his  escape,  and  being  called  on 
several  times  to  surrender  and  continuing  to  run,  when 
leaping  into  a  bog  impassable  by  the  horse,  he  re 
ceived  a  stroke  on  his  head  with  a  sword  which  kill 
ed  him  instantly.  The  above  facts  were  proved  by 
affidavits  of  the  persons  who  were  present,  and  by 
the  voluntary  testimony  of  one  Aaron,  who  was  taken 
prisoner  with  the  said  White.  The  wanton  execu 
tion  of  Captain  Huddy  so  exasperated  the  inhabitants 
of  that  part  of  New  Jersey,  that  they  presented  a 
respectful  memorial  to  General  Washington,  claiming 
justice  for  the  murder  of  one  of  their  fellow  citizens, 
or  retaliation  in  case  justice  should  be  refused.  Gen 
eral  Washington,  immediately  addressed  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  on  the  subject,  and  assured  him,  that  unless 
the  perpetrators  of  the  murder  were  delivered  up, 
he  should  be  under  the  painful  necessity  of  retali 
ating.  In  the  mean  time  all  the  general  officers,  and 
those  commanding  brigades  or  regiments,  were  or 
dered  to  assemble  at  General  Heath's  quarters,  to 
deliberate  and  decide  on  the  following  questions  : 
1st.  Shall  resort  be  had  to  retaliation  for  the  murder 
of  Captain  Huddy  ?  2d.  On  whom  shall  it  be  inflict 
ed  ?  3d.  How  shall  the  victim  be  designated  ?  In 
order  that  each  officer  should  be  free  from  all  bias 
and  uninfluenced  by  each  other,  General  Washing- 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1782.  377 

ton  ordered  that,  without  conversing  on  the  questions, 
each  one  should  write  his  own  opinion  and  address 
the  same  sealed  up  to  the  Commander  in  Chief.  By 
this  method  his  Excellency  obtained  the  spontaneous 
expression  of  the  feelings  of  each  individual  officer, 
and  they  were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  retalia 
tion  ought  to  be  resorted  to ;  that  it  should  be  inflict 
ed  on  an  officer  of  equal  rank  with  Captain  Huddy, 
and  that  the  victim  be  designated  by  lot.  Accord 
ingly  the  painful  alternative  was  adopted,  the  names 
of  the  British  captains,  our  prisoners,  were  collected, 
a  fair  and  impartial  lot  was  drawn,  and  it  fell  on 
Captain  Asgill,  of  the  British  guards,  a  gentleman  of 
a  noble  English  family,  an  only  son  of  his  parents, 
and  only  nineteen  years  of  age,  to  be  the  unhappy 
victim.  Next  to  the  execution  of  Major  Andre,  this 
event  occasioned  the  most  painful  sensations  to  the 
mind  of  the  benevolent  and  humane  Washington ; 
his  anxiety  and  poignant  distress  it  is  said  were  very 
visible.  But  still  firm  and  inflexible  in  his  determi 
nation  to  obtain  satisfaction,  or  pursue  a  course  that 
will  tend  to  deter  others  from  a  repetition  of  crimes 
so  derogatory  to  the  laws  of  humanity,  of  war,  and  of 
justice.  He  addressed  Congress  on  the  subject,  and 
communicated  to  that  body  the  New  Jersey  memorial. 
They  unanimously  approved  of  the  firm  and  judicious 
conduct  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  assured  him 
of  their  firmest  support  in  his  purpose  of  exemplary 
retaliation. 

General  Washington  was  anxious  to  alleviate  the 
melancholy  condition  of  Captain  Asgill  as  much  as 
possible,  and  directed  the  officer  of  his  guard  to  treat 
him  with  every  tender  attention  and  politeness  which 
his  rank,  fortune,  and  connexions,  together  with  his  un 
fortunate  state  demanded,  that  is  not  inconsistent  with 
his  perfect  security.  He  ordered  also,  that  Captain 
Ludlow,  Asgill's  friend,  should  be  permitted  to  go 
into  New  York  with  such  representations  as  they  may 
please  to  make  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  who  has  now 
48 


378  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1782. 

succeeded  Sir  Henry  Clinton  as  commander  in  chief  of 
the  British  army.     Captain  Asgill  in  addressing  Gen 
eral  Washington,  thus  expresses  himself,   "  I  cannot 
conclude  this  letter  without  expressing  my  gratitude 
to  your  Excellency  for  ordering  Colonel  Dayton  to 
favor  me  as  much  as  my  situation  will  admit  of,  and 
in  justice  to  him  I  must  acknowledge  the  feeling  and 
attentive  manner  in  which  these  commands  have  been 
executed."     How  awful  is  the  condition  of  this  in 
nocent  young  gentleman,  doomed  to  suffer  an  igno 
minious  death  for  the  crime  of  an  infamous  miscreant 
who  so  justly  deserves  the  halter!  Dreadful  indeed 
must  he  that  suspence  when  one's  life  is  made  to 
poise  on  a  point  so  acute  arid   delicate  that  an  un 
certain  contingency  shall  decide  the  issue.     General 
Washington  having  received  information  hy  letter, 
that  a  court  martial  was  appointed   by  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  even  before  he  received  the  letter  of  com 
plaint,  for  the  trial  of  Captain  Lippincot  and  his 
abetters  in  the  death  of  Captain  Huddy,  waited  to 
be  apprized  of  the  issue,  as  Sir  Guy  Carleton  had 
assured   him  of  the  fullest  satisfaction.     At  length, 
however,  the  proceedings  of  the  court  martial  were 
communicated,  and  it  was  finished  by  the  following 
declaration.     "The  court  having  considered  the  evi 
dence  for  and  against  the  captain,  and  it  appearing, 
that,  though  Joshua   Huddy  was  executed  without 
proper  authority,  what  the  prisoner  did,  was  not  the 
effect  of  malice  or  ill  will,  but  proceeded  from  a  con 
viction  that  it  was  his  duty  to  obey  the  orders  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  associated   loyalists,,  and    his 
not  doubting  their  having  full  authority  to  give  such 
orders,  the  court  is  of  opinion  that  he  is  not  guilty 
of  the  murder  laid  to  his  charge,  and  therefore  acquit 
him/'7     Never  perhaps  was  there  a  more  complete 
burlesque  on  all  courts  of  justice  !   never  a  more  dis 
graceful    proceeding   to    exculpate    a  criminal  from 
merited  punishment.    It  appeared  in  the  course  of  the 
trial  that  Governor  Franklin,  president  of  the  board 


1782.  379 

of  associated  loyalists,  gave  Lippincot  a  verbal  order 
to  hang  Captain  Huddy  without  a  trial,  and  without 
a  crime  alleged  against  him  !  The  order  is  obeyed 
in  the  most  unfeeling  manner,  yet  the  perpetrator  is 
found  not  guilty,  and  therefore  acquitted.  Sir  Guy 
Carleton  requested  of  General  Washington  a  pass 
port  for  chief  justice  Smith  to  repair  to  the  Ameri 
can  head  quarters  in  order  to  lay  before  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief  the  proceedings  of  the  court  martial, 
with  other  documents  and  explanations  which  he  had 
no  doubt  would  be  satisfactory.  His  Excellency  de 
clined  an  interview  with  Mr.  Smith,  "  as  the  ques 
tion  is  purely  of  a  military  nature  and  reducible  to 
the  single  point  whether  the  perpetrator  of  the  wan 
ton  and  cruel  murder  of  Huddy  is  to  be  given  up, 
or  a  British  officer  to  suffer  in  his  place."  But  he 
proposed  to  send  Major  General  Heath  to  meet  a 
British  officer  of  equal  rank  if  agreeable  to  the  Eng 
lish  commander.  This  was  also  declined,  and  it  ap 
pears  that  both  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and  Sir  Guy 
Carleton,  disapproved  of  the  acquittal  of  Lippincot. 
Sir  Guy,  in  a  letter  which  accompanied  the  proceed 
ings  of  the  court,  expressed  in  unequivocal  terms  to 
General  Washington  that  notwithstanding  the  ac 
quittal  he  reprobated  the  act,  and  gave  assurances  of 
prosecuting  a  further  inquiry.  Thus  stands  at  present 
this  very  unfortunate  affair,  and  Captain  Asgill  re 
mains  in  custody  to  await  the  final  issue. 

In  order  to  avoid  breaking  the  chain  of  this  in 
teresting  narrative,  I  proceed  in  anticipation  in  point 
of  time,  to  the  final  conclusion  of  the  melancholy 
catastrophe.  General  Washington  on  the  19th  of 
August,  made  a  representation  to  Congress  respect 
ing  the  whole  business,  for  their  consideration,  and 
soon  after  directed  that  Captain  Asgill  be  put  on 
his  parole  at  Morristown,  till  further  orders ;  and 
he  was  allowed  the  indulgence  of  riding  for  his 
health  and  recreation,  several  miles  into  the  country 
in  any  direction,  even  within  a  few  miles  of  the 


380  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1782. 

British  lines,  accompanied  by  Iris  friend  Major  Gor 
don. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  General  Washington,  in  a 
letter  to  the  secretary  of  war,  expressed  his  private 
opinion,  that  Captain  Asgill  ought  to  be  liberated 
from  his  duresse,  and  be  permitted  to  return  to  his 
friends  in  England.  Sufficient  time  had  now  elapsed 
since  the  arrest  of  Captain  Asgill,  for  the  distressing 
intelligence  to  reach  his  parents,  and  to  interest  the 
attention  and  solicitude  of  almost  all  Europe.  The 
father  of  young  Asgill  was  languishing  with  mortal 
sickness.  Lady  Asgill,  in  the  agony  of  her  soul,  with 
her  family  in  the  deepest  distress  and  sorrow,  pros 
trated  themselves  at  the  feet  of  their  king  and  queen, 
to  implore  their  compassion  and  assistance.  She 
next  had  recourse  to  the  beneficence  of  the  illustri 
ous  sovereigns  of  France,  through  the  medium  of 
the  celebrated  Count  de  Vergennes,  though  the  two 
nations  were  at  war.  Her  incomparably  pathetic 
and  eloquent  letter  could  not  fail  of  producing 
the  desired  effect — it  reached  the  hearts,  arid  in 
terested  the  sympathies  of  those  exalted  philan 
thropists  to  whom  it  was  addressed.  A  letter  was 
immediately  despatched  from  Count  de  Vergennes  to 
General  Washington,  dated  July  27th,  and  this  was 
accompanied  by  that  which  the  count  had  received 
from  Lady  Asgill.  "  Your  Excellency,''  says  the 
count,  "  will  not  read  this  letter,  Lady  AsgilFs, 
without  being  extremely  affected.  It  thus  affected 
the  king  and  queen  to  whom  I  communicated  it. 
The  goodness  of  their  majesties'  hearts  induces  them 
to  desire  that  the  inquietudes  of  an  unfortunate 
mother  may  be  calmed  and  her  tenderness  reassur 
ed. — There  is  one  consideration,  Sir,  which  though 
not  decisive,  my  have  an  influence  on  your  resolution. 
Captain  Asgill  is  doubtless  your  prisoner,  but  he  is 
among  those  whom  the  arms  of  the  king  contributed 
to  put  into  your  hands  at  Yorktown. — Though  this 
circumstance  does  not  operate  as  a  safeguard,  it  how- 


MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1782.  381 

ever,  justifies  the  interest  I  permit  myself  to  take  in 
this  affair. — In  seeking  to  deliver  Mr.  Asgill  from 
the  fate  which  threatens  him,  I  am  far  from  engaging 
you  to  seek  another  victim  ;  the  pardon  to  be  per- 
iectly  satisfactory,  must  be  entire." — Copies  of  these 
letters  being  transmitted  with  one  from  his  Excel 
lency  to  Congress,  they  resolved  November  7th? 
that  the  Commander  in  Chief  be  directed  to  set  Cap 
tain  Asgill  at  liberty.  A  more  grateful  duty  could 
scarcely  be  assigned ;  it  relieved  his  mind  from  a 
weight  which  had  long  oppressed  and  preyed  on  his 
spirits.  He  immediately  transmitted  to  Captain 
Asgill  a  copy  of  the  resolve  of  Congress,  accom 
panied  with  a  passport  for  him  to  go  into  New  York, 
and  also  a  letter  which  closes  as  follows.  "  I  cannot 
take  leave  of  you,  Sir,  without  assuring  you,  that 
in  whatever  light  my  agency  in  this  unpleasant 
affair  may  be  viewed,  1  was  never  influenced  through 
the  whole  of  it,  by  sanguinary  motives,  but  by  what 
I  conceived  to  be  a  sense  of  my  duty,  which  loudly 
called  on  me  to  take  measures,  however  disagreeable, 
to  prevent  a  repetition  of  those  enormities  which 
have  been  the  subject  of  discussion.  And  that  this 
important  end  is  likely  to  be  answered  without  the 
effusion  of  the  blood  of  an  innocent  person  is  not  a 
greater  relief  to  you  than  it  is, 

Sir,  to  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON.* 


*  From  the  u  Historical  and  Literary  Memoirs  arid  Anecdotes,  select 
ed  from  the  correspondence  of  Baron  de  Grimm  and  Diderot.1' 

u  You  can  well  remember  the  general  interest  Sir  Asgill  in 
spired,  a  young  officer  in  the  English  guards,  who  was  made  prisoner 
and  condemned  to  death  by  the  Americans  in  reprisal  for  the  death  of 
Captain  Huddy,  who  was  hanged  by  the  order  of  Captain  Lippincot. 
The  public  prints  all  over  Europe,  resounded  with  the  unhappy  catas 
trophe,  which  for  eight  months  impended  over  the  life  of  this  young  offi 
cer.  The  extreme  grief  of  his  mother,  the  sort  of  delirium  which  clouded 
the  mind  of  his  sister  at  hearing  of  the  dreadful  fate  which  menaced  the 
life  of  her  brother,  interested  every  feeling  mind  in  the  fate  of  this  un 
fortunate  family.  The  general  curiosity,  with  regard  to  the  events  of 
the  war,  yielded,  if  I  may  so  say,  to  the  interest  which  young  Asgill 
inspired,  and  the  first  question  asked  of  all  vessels  that  arrived  from  any 


382  MILITARY   JOURNAL,  1782. 

The  tour  of  duty  at  Dobb's  ferry,  having  fallen  to 
our  regiment,  we  marched  from  Nelson's  point  on  the 

port  in  North  America,  was  always  an  inquiry  into  the  fate  of  this 
young  man.  It  is  known  that  Asgill  was  thrice  conducted  to  the  foot 
of  the  fgibbet,  and  that  thrice  General  Washington,  who  could  not 
bring  himself  to  commit  this  crime  of  policy  without  a  great  struggle, 
suspended  his  punishment ;  his  humanity  and  justice  made  him  hope 
that  the  English  general  would  deliver  over  to  him  the  author  of  the 
crime  which  Asgill  was  condemned  to  expiate.  Clinton,  either  ill 
obeyed,  or  insensible  to  the  fate  of  young  Asgill,  persisted  in  refusing 
to  deliver  up  the  barbarous  Lippincot.  In  vain  the  king  of  England, 
at  whose  feet  this  unfortunate  family  fell  down,  had  given  orders  to 
surrender  up  to  the  Americans,  the  author  of  a  crime  which  dishonored 
the  English  nation  ;  George  I'll,  was  not  obeyed.  In  vain  the  United 
States  of  Holland  entreated  of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  pardon 
of  the  unhappy  Asgill;  the  gibbet  erected  in  front  of  his  prison,  did  not 
cease  to  offer  to  his  eyes  those  dreadful  preparatives  more  awful  than 
death  itself.  In  these  circumstances,  and  almost  reduced  to  despair, 
the  mother  of  the  unfortunate  victim  bethought  herself,  that  the  minis 
ter  of  a  king  armed  against  her  own  nation,  might  succeed  in  obtaining 
that,  which  was  refused  to  her  king.  Lady  Asgill  wrote  to  the  Count 
de  Vergennes,  a  letter,  the  eloquence  of  which,  independently  of  orato 
rical  forms,  is  that  of  all  people  and  all  languages,  because  it  derives  its 
power  from  the  first  and  noblest  sentiments  of  our  nature. 

The  two  memorials  which  are  subjoined,  merit  being  preserved  as 
historical  monuments. 

Letter  from  Lady  Jlsgill,  to  the  Comte  de  Vergennes. 

u  SIR, — If  the  politeness  of  the  French  court  will  permit  a  stranger 
to  address  it,  it  cannot  be  doubted  but  that  she  who  unites  in  herself 
all  the  more  delicate  sensations  with  which  an  individual  can  be  pene 
trated,  will  be  received  favorably  by  a  nobleman,  who  reflects  honor 
not  only  on  his  nation,  but  on  human  nature.  The  subject  on  which 
I  implore  your  assistance,  is  too  heart  rending  to  be  dwelt  on ;  most 
probably,  the  public  report  of  it  has  already  reached  you  ;  this  re 
lieves  rne  from  the  burthen  of  so  mournful  a  duty.  My  son,  my  only 
son,  dear  to  me  as  he  is  brave,  amiable  as  he  is  beloved,  only  nineteen 
years  of  age,  a  prisoner  of  war,  in  consequence  of  the  capitulation  of 
Yorktown,  is  at  present  confined  in  America  as  an  object  of  reprisal. — 
Shall  the  innocent  share  the  fate  of  the  guilty  ?  Figure  to  yourself,  Sir, 
the  situation  of  a  faiuily  in  these  circumstances.  Surrounded  as  I  am 
with  objects  of  distress,  bowed  down  by  fear  and  grief,  words  are  want 
ing  to  express  what  I  feel,  and  to  paint  such  a  scene  of  misery :  my 
husband  given  over  by  his  physicians  some  hours  before  the  arrival 
of  this  news,  not  in  a  condition  to  be  informed  of  it;  my  daughter  at 
tacked  by  a  fever,  accompanied  with  delirium  ;  speaking  of  her  brother 
in  tones  of  wildness,  and  without  an  interval  of  reason,  unless  it  be  to 
listen  to  some  circumstances  which  may  console  her  heart.  Let  your 
sensibility,  Sir,  paint  to  you  mv  profound,  my  inexpressible  misery,  and 
plead  in  my  favor ;  a  word,  a  word  from  you,  like  a  voice  from  Heaven, 
would  liberate  us  from  desolation,  from  the  last  degree  of  misfortune. 
I  know  how  far  General  Washington  reveres  your  character.  Tell  him 
only  that  you  wish  my  son  restored  to  liberty,  and  he  will  restore  him 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,    1782.  383 

24th,  crossed  the  river  at  King's  ferry,  and  on  the 
25th,  encamped  near  the  block  house  at  this  place. 

to  his  desponding  family  ;  he  will  restore  him  to  happiness.  The  virtue 
and  courage  of  my  son  will  justify  this  act  of  clemency.  His  honor, 
Sir,  led  him  to  America  ;  he  was  born  to  abundance,  to  independence, 
and  to  the  happiest  prospects.  Permit  me,  once  more  to  entreat  the 
interference  of  your  high  influence  in  favor  of  innocence,  and  in  the 
cause  of  justice  and  humanity.  Despatch,  Sir,  a  letter  from  France  to 
General  Washington,  and  favor  me  with  a  copy  of  it,  that  it  may  be 
transmitted  from  hence.  I  feel  the  whole  weight  of  the  liberty  taken 
in  presenting  this  request;  but  I  feel  confident,  whether  granted  or 
not,  that  you  will  pity  the  distress  by  which  it  was  suggested;  your 
humanity  will  drop  a  tear  on  my  fault,  and  blot  it  out  forever. 

"May  that  Heaven  which  1  implore,  grant  that  you  may  never  need 
the  consolation  which  you  have  it  in  your  power  to  bestow  on 

THERESA  ASGILL." 

Second  letter  of  Lady  Jlsgill  to  the  Comte  de  Vtrgennes. 

u  SIR, — Exhausted  by  long  suffering,  overpowered  by  an  excess  of 
unexpected  happiness,  confined  to  my  bed  by  weakness  and  languor, 
bent  to  the  earth  by  what  I  have  undergone,  my  sensibility  alone  could 
supply  me  with  strength  sufficient  to  address  you. 

u  Condescend,  Sir,  to  accept  this  feeble  effort  of  rny  gratitude.  It  has 
been  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  Almighty  ;  and  believe  me,  it  has  been  pre 
sented  with  the  same  sincerity  to  you,  Sir,  and  to  your  illustrious 
sovereigns ;  by  their  august  and  salutary  intervention,  as  by  your  own, 
a  son  is  restored  to  me,  to  whom  my  own  life  was  attached.  I 
have  the  sweet  assurance,  that  my  vows  for  my  protectors  are  heard  by 
Heaven,  to  whom  they  are  ardently  offered,  yes,  Sir,  they  will  produce 
their  effect  before  the  dreadful  and  last  tribunal,  where  I  indulge  in  the 
hope,  that  we  shall  both  appear  together;  you  to  receive  the  recom 
pense  of  your  virtues ;  myself,  that  of  my  sufferings.  I  will  raise  my 
voice  before  that  imposing  tribunal,  1  will  call  for  those  sacred  registers, 
in  which  your  humanity  will  be  found  recorded.  1  will  pray  that  bless 
ings  may  be  showered  on  your  head,  on  him,  who,  availing  himself  of  the 
noblest  privilege  received  from  God,  a  privilege  no  other  than  divine, 
has  changed  misery  into  happiness,  has  withdrawn  the  sword  from  the 
innocent  head,  and  restored  the  worthiest  of  sons,  to  the  most  tender 
and  unfortunate  of  mothers. 

"  Condescend,  Sir,  to  accept  this  last  tribute  of  gratitude  due  to  your 
virtuous  sentiments.  Preserve  this  tribute,  and  may  it  go  down  to  your 
posterity  as  a  testimony  of  your  sublime  and  exemplary  beneficence  to 
a  stranger,  whose  nation  was  at  war  with  your  own  ;  but  these  tender 
affections  have  not  been  destroyed  by  war.  May  this  tribute  bear 
testimony  to  my  gratitude  long  after  the  hand  that  expresses  it,  with 
the  heart  which  at  this  moment  only  vibrates  with  the  vivacity  of  grate 
ful  sentiments,  shall  be  reduced  to  dust ;  even  to  the  last  day  of  ray 
existence,  it  shall  beat  but  to  offer  all  the  respect  and  all  the  gratitude 
with  which  it  is  penetrated.  THERESA  ASGILL." 

REMARKS. — The  Baron  de  Grimm  has  unfortunately  been  led  to  make 
an  erroneous  statement  respecting  the  treatment  of  Captain  Asgill, 
which  ought  in  justice  to  be  corrected.  It  is  difficult  to  account  for 


384  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782. 

This  afternoon  a  flag  of  truce  arrived  here  from 
New  York  with  despatches  for  General  Washington, 
which  were  immediately  forwarded  to  him. 

•August  5th. — Flags  are  passing  and  repassing 
from  this  post  to  New  York  and  back  every  day,  and 
several  gentlemen  have  been  permitted  to  come  out 
of  that  city.  By  the  intelligence  which  they  bring 
corroborating  those  which  we  receive  from  other 
sources,  commissioners  are  sent  from  the  court  of 
London  to  Paris,  where  they  are  to  meet  French  and 
American  commissioners  for  the  important  purpose 
of  negotiating  a  general  peace.  May  God  grant 
them  success  in  bringing  to  America  an  honorable 
peace  and  national  Independence.  A  very  consider 
able  number  of  deserters  have  come  out  from  New 
York  within  these  few  days  past. 

31  st. — The  army  marched  from  their  different 
quarters  this  morning  and  encamped  at  Verplank's 
point  in  the  evening.  Part  of  the  troops  came 
down  the  river  in  boats,  which  being  in  motion  and 
in  regular  order  on  the  water,  made  a  most  beautiful 
appearance.  I  shall  tomorrow  commence  a  journey 
to  Philadelphia,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  a  sum  of 
money  at  the  American  Bank,  for  the  payment  of  our 
regiment. 

September  10 th. — I  returned  last  evening  from 
Philadelphia,  where  I  met  my  very  respectable  friends 

his  assertion  ihat,  "  It  is  known  that  Asgill  was  thrice  conducted  to  the 
foot  of  the  gibbet  and  thrice  General  Washington,  who  could  not  bring 
himself  to  commit  this  crime  of  policy  without  a  great  struggle,  suspend 
ed  his  punishment ;"  and  again,  u  the  gibbet  erected  in  front  of  his 
prison,  did  not  cease  to  offer  to  his  eyes  those  dreadful  preparatives 
more  awful  than  death  itself."  I  can  with  the  fullest  confidence  affirm, 
that  a  gibbet  never  was  erected  for  Captain  Asgill  at  any  period  of  his 
confinement,  and  that  no  preparations  whatever  were  made  for  his 
execution,  except  a  secure  confinement  for  a  short  period,  during 
which  the  utmost  tenderness  and  polite  civilities  were  bestowed  on 
him,  and  for  these  he  expressed  his  grateful  acknowledgments  in  his 
letter  to  General  Washington.  It  would  be  preposterous  to  suppose, 
that  the  Commander  in  Chief  could  act  a  farcical  part  by  exhibiting  the 
machines  of  death,  when  it  was  altogether  problematical  whether  an 
execution  would  be  the  final  resort,  and  surely  nothing  could  be  less 
characteristic  of  Washington,  than  wontonly  to  torture  the  feelings  of  a 
prisoner  with  the  horrors  of  death. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782.  385 

Dr.  Treat  and  Dr.  Benney  of  the  hospital,  with 
whom  I  dined.  Drank  tea  and  spent  the  evening  with 
Dr.  Andrew  Craige  our  apothecary  general.  The 
next  day  dined  with  Mr.  James  Lovell  lieutenant  and 
adjutant  of  our  regiment.  Here  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  being  introduced  to  two  celebrated  characters, 
Dr.  John  Jones,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  honorable 
Robert  Morris,  the  great  American  financier.  Dr. 
Jones  formerly  resided  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  he  was  "  distinguished  for  his  professional 
merit,  urbanity  of  manners,  and  •  moral  excellence. ?? 
As  a  surgeon,  Dr.  Jones  is  considered  at  the  head  of 
the  profession  in  the  United  States,  and  his  reputa 
tion  has  been  considerably  extended  by  a  valuable 
work  entitled,  "  Plain  remarks  on  wounds  and 
fractures"  which  he  published  in  the  year  1775  for 
the  particular  benefit  of  the  surgeons  of  our  army, 
and  which  has  been  received  with  universal  approba 
tion.  Mr.  Morris  stands  preeminent  as  a  citizen,  mer 
chant  and  patriot,  and  the  public  are  greatly  indebt 
ed  to  him  for  his  unrivaled  efforts  as  superintendent 
of  the  financies  of  the  United  States,  by  which  the 
public  interest  has  been  greatly  promoted.  I  waited 
on  Major  General  Lincoln,  secretary  at  war,  to  ob 
tain  an  order  on  the  Bank  for  the  money,  which  was 
the  object  of  rny  visit,  but  was  disappointed,  as  the 
state  of  the  Bank  would  not  admit  of  any  discount. 
General  Lincoln  introduced  me  to  Mr.  Osgood  a 
member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts. 

September  14th. — The  whole  army  was  paraded 
under  arms  this  morning  in  order  to  honor  his  Ex 
cellency  Count  Rochambeau  on  his  arrival  from  the 
southward.  The  troops  were  all  formed  in  two  lines 
extending  from  the  ferry,  where  the  count  crossed,  to 
head  quarters.  A  troop  of  horse  met  and  received 
him  at  King's  ferry,  and  conducted  him  through  the 
line  to  General  Washington's  quarters,  where  sitting 
on  his  horse  by  the  side  of  his  Excellency,  the  whole 
army  marched  before  him  and  paid  the  usual  salute 
49 


386  MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782. 

and  honors.  Our  troops  were  now  in  complete  uni 
form  and  exhibited  every  mark  of  soldierly  discipline. 
Count  Rochambeau  was  most  highly  gratified  to  per 
ceive  the  very  great  improvement  which  our  army 
had  made  in  appearance  since  he  last  reviewed  them, 
and  expressed  his  astonishment  at  their  rapid  progress 
in  military  skill  and  discipline.  He  said  to  General 
Washington  "  you  must  have  formed  an  alliance  with 
the  king  of  Prussia.  These  troops  are  Prussians." 
Several  of  the  principal  officers  of  the  French  army 
who  have  seen  troops  of  different  European  nations, 
have  bestowed  the  highest  encomiums  and  applause 
on  our  army,  and  declared  that  they  had  seen  none 
superior  to  the  Americans. 

16th. — Dined  with  Major  General  Howe,  with  a 
number  of  officers  of  our  line,  and  on  the  17th  dined 
with  Baron  Steuben  in  company  with  Generals  Howe, 
Paterson,  and  a  number  of  French  officers.  The 
baron  is  never  more  happy  than  when  he  is  manifest 
ing  his  generous  friendship  and  benevolence. 

October. — Eight  battalions  have  been  selected 
from  the  army  to  perform  some  grand  manoeuvres 
and  a  review.  The  evolutions  and  firings  were 
performed  this  day  with  that  regularity  and  pre 
cision  which  does  them  honor,  and  which  received 
the  full  approbation  of  the  numerous  spectators,  and 
of  the  American  and  French  officers  who  were  pre 
sent. 

30 th. — At  reveille  on  the  26th  instant,  the  left  wing 
of  our  army  under  the  command  of  General  Heath 
decamped  from  Verplank's  point  and  marched  to  the 
hi  ghlands  ;  took  our  lodging  in  the  woods,  without 
covering,  and  were  exposed  to  heavy  rain  during 
a  night  and  day.  Thence  we  crossed  the  Hudson 
to  West  Point,  and  marched  over  the  mountain  called 
Butter  hill ;  passed  the  night  in  the  open  field,  and 
the  next  day  reached  the  ground  where  we  are  to 
erect  log  huts  for  our  winter  quarters,  near  New 
Windsor. 


MILITARY    JOURNAL,  1782.  387 

November  Wth. — I  attended  the  funeral  of  my 
late  worthy  friend,  Ensign  Trant.  This  young  gen 
tleman  at  the  age  of  eighteen  came  over  from  Ireland 
about  two  years  since,  and  on  his  arrival  in  Boston, 
was  appointed  an  ensign  in  our  regiment.  Having 
a  taste  for  military  life,  he  had  acquired  considerable 
reputation  as  an  officer,  and  was  esteemed  for  his 
amiable  temper  and  disposition,  his  liberal  and  gen 
erous  sentiments,  and  his  polite  and  gentlemanly  man 
ners.  He  suffered  a  lingering  illness  of  eight  months. 
Renouncing  all  hope  of  recovery,  he  conquered  the 
terrors  of  death  and  acquired  a  remarkable  degree  of 
patience  and  resignation  during  the  last  weeks  of  his 
extreme  suffering.  His  remains  were  decently  in 
terred  in  the  garrison  at  West  Point,  and  were  fol 
lowed  to  the  grave  by  his  Excellency  General  Wash 
ington,  and  a  very  respectable  procession. 

A  melancholy  event  has  recently  been  announ 
ced  from  South  Carolina,  Colonel  John  Laurens,  a 
man  of  inestimable  value,  has  been  slain  in  a  ren 
counter  with  the  enemy  near  Charleston.  He  was 
the  son  of  Henry  Laurens,  Esq.  late  president  of 
Congress,  and  our  ambassador  to  Holland.  He  had 
been  employed  on  a  special  mission  to  France,  to 
obtain  a  loan  for  the  United  States,  in  which  he  was 
successful.  The  enemy  having  detached  a  party 
into  the  country  to  procure  provisions,  Colonel  Lau 
rens,  ever  foremost  in  danger,  joined  the  party  of 
continentals  as  a  volunteer,  to  counteract  their  object, 
and  while  advancing  on  the  enemy  with  great  intre 
pidity,  he  received  a  mortal  wound.  His  death  is 
universally  lamented,  more  especially  at  this  late 
period,  when  the  contest  is  supposed  to  be  near  a 
termination.  No  eulogy  can  exceed  the  merit  of 
this  noble  and  very  useful  officer. 

A  very  extraordinary  and  melancholy  event  has 
recently  been  announced  from  England.  The  ship 
called  the  Royal  George,  of  one  hundred  and  eight 
guns,  commanded  by  admiral  Kempenfelt,  being 


388  MILITARY    JOURNAL,   1782. 

careened  on  one  side  to  receive  some  necessary  re 
pairs,  was  by  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  forced  over,  and 
her  gun  ports  being  open,  she  instantly  filled  with 
water,  and  went  to  the  bottom.  The  admiral  himself 
was  writing  at  his  table  in  the  cabin,  who  with  about 
one  thousand  souls  was  lost,  among  them  were  about 
three  hundred  women  and  children.  Admiral  Kem- 
penfelt  was  about  seventy  years  of  age,  and  was  con 
sidered,  iu  point  of  professional  knowledge  and  judg 
ment,  one  of  the  first  naval  officers  in  Europe.  A 
victualler  along  side  was  swallowed  up  in  the  whirl 
pool  occasioned  by  the  sinking  of  the  ship. 

The  campaign  is  now  brought  to  a  close,  and  no 
glorious  deeds  have  been  achieved,  not  a  gun  has 
been  fired  between  the  two  armies  during  the  cam 
paign,  and  the  prospect  of  peace  is  so  favorable  and 
encouraging,  that  our  Congress  have  passed  a  resolve 
to  discharge  a  considerable  part  of  the  army  on  the 
1st  day  of  January  next.  The  supernumerary  offi 
cers  are  to  retire  on  the  establishment  provided  by 
Congress,  and  are  to  be  entitled  to  all  the  emol 
uments  with  those  who  continue  in  service  till  peace 
shall  be  proclaimed. 

December  15 th. — Dined  with  my  friends  Drs. 
Townsend,  Eustis  and  Adams,  at  the  hospital,  in 
company  with  Generals  Gates  and  Howe,  and  their 
aids,  Dr.  Cochran  our  surgeon  general,  and  several 
other  officers.  Our  entertainment  was  ample  and 
elegant. 

19th. — I  partook  of  another  entertainment  at  Dr. 
Eustis'  quarters,  New  Boston.  Our  guests  were 
General  McDougall,  and  his  aids,  Colonels  Jackson, 
Crane,  &c.  General  Alexander  McDougall  is  the  son 
of  a  Scotchman,  whose  employment  was  that  of  a 
milk  man  in  the  city  of  New  York ;  and  the  son  was 
sometimes  his  assistant.  The  General  at  an  early 
period  was  distinguished  among  those  who  had  adopt 
ed  the  whig  principles,  and  known  to  be  a  zealous 
advocate  for  freedom.  Principle  and  a  sense  of  duty 


MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1782. 

led  him  to  the  field  of  contest,  and  in  August,  1776, 
he  was  by  Congress  appointed  a  brigadier  general, 
and  by  his  intelligence  and  active  spirit  he  has  acquir 
ed  a  reputable  standing  as  a  general  officer.  He 
displays  much  of  the  Scotch  character,  is  affable  and 
facetious,  often  indulging  in  pleasantry,  and  advert 
ing  to  his  national  peculiarities  and  family  origin  ;  at 
the  i lose  of  which  he  adds,  "  now  gentlemon  you 
have  got  the  history  of  Sawney  McDougall  the  mi  Ik 
moivs  son." 

25  th. — The  time  is  now  approaching  when,  accord 
ing  to  a  resolve  of  Congress,  a  reduction  of  the  army 
is  to  take  place,  and  it  is  optional  with  me  to  con 
tinue  till  peace  is  actually  proclaimed  and  our  army 
entirely  disbanded,  or  to  retire  from  service  on  the 
new  establishment  by  which  I  shall  be  entitled  to 
the  same  emoluments  with  those  who  remain.  Hav 
ing  duly  deliberated  on  the  subject,  I  have  come  to 
the  resolution  of  bidding  a  final  adieu  to  the  scenes 
of  military  life,  and  have  resigned  my  commission  in 
favor  of  Dr.  Shute.  It  is  with  inexpressible  reluc 
tance  that  I  contemplate  a  separation  from  numerous 
friends  with  whom  I  have  so  long  associated  in  the 
most  harmonious  and  pleasing  intercourse.  Engaged 
in  the  same  glorious  and  honorable  cause,  encounter 
ing  together  the  same  perils,  suffering  unparalleled 
hardships  and  privations,  and  participating  in  the  most 
interesting  scenes  and  events,  our  mutual  and  cher 
ished  attachments  are  no  less  ardent  than  the  ties  of 
brotherly  affection.  Friendship  formed  under  such 
circumstances,  and  cemented  by  purity  of  sentiment, 
must  prove  as  lasting  as  our  days  on  earth,  and  we 
shall  ever  cherish  a  sincere  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
the  companions  of  our  military  career.  It  will  be  to 
me  a  source  of  infinite  satisfaction  during  the  remain 
der  of  my  days,  that  I  have  shared  in  the  toils  and 
perils  of  war  during  sevea  years  and  a  half,  in  defence 
of  my  country  and  its  freedom,  and  that  the  mighty 
struggle  terminates  in  peace  and  the  establishment  of 


390  MILITARY  JOURNAL,  1783. 

our  national  Independence.  This  momentous  event 
should  be  considered  as  a  rich  blessing  which  Provi 
dence  bestows  on  us  for  the  benefit  of  the  present 
and  many  future  generations.  It  is  incumbent  on  me 
to  express  my  unfeigned  gratitude  to  the  All  Wise 
Author  and  Preserver  of  men,  that  he  has  been  pleas 
ed  to  confer  on  me  innumerable  blessings,  and  pre 
served  my  life  and  health  during  a  long  period  while 
exposed  to  the  greatest  hardships  and  imminent 
perils. 

January  1st,  1783. — This  day  I  close  my  military 
career  and  quit  forever  the  toils  and  vicissitudes  in 
cident  to  the  storms  of  war.  To  my  military  com 
panions  I  bid  a  final  adieu,  and  hope  to  enjoy  in  future 
the  blessings  which  attend  a  virtuous  course  of  do 
mestic  life.  I  retire  with  honorable  testimonials  from 
very  respectable  authority  of  my  punctuality  and 
faithful  performance  of  duty  in  the  various  situations 
which  I  have  been  called  to  occupy,  and  with  a  heart 
fraught  with  grateful  recollections  of  the  kindness 
and  affectionate  intercourse  which  I  have  experienc 
ed  from  my  superiors,  and  from  my  numerous  com 
panions  and  associates.  While  I  congratulate  my 
country  on  the  momentous  event  by  which  we  are 
about  to  be  elevated  to  the  rank  of  an  Independent 
Nation,  most  cordially  do  I  proffer  my  sympathy  for 
the  many  lives  of  inestimable  value  which  have  been 
sacrificed  during  this  ever  memorable  contest. 

NOTE. — As  the  materials  for  the  remainder  of  this  work  were  collect 
ed  and  arranged  after  I  returned  from  the  army,  I  have  thought  it  pro 
per  to  change  my  running  title  from  Military  Journal  to  Revolutionary 
Annals. 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNULS. 


SOCIETY  OF  CINCINNATI. 

WHILE  contemplating  a  final  separation  of  the  offi 
cers  of  the  army,  the  tenderest  feelings  of  the  heart 
had  their  afflicting  operations.  It  was  at  the  sugges 
tion  of  General  Knox,  and  with  the  acquiescence 
of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  that  an  expedient  was 
devised  by  which  a  hope  is  entertained  that  their 
long  cherished  friendship  and  social  intercourse  may 
be  perpetuated,  and  that  at  future  periods  they  may 
annually  communicate,  and  revive  a  recollection  of 
the  bonds  by  which  they  were  connected.  It  was  on 
the  10th  day  of  May,  1783,  when  the  officers  held 
their  first  meeting,  at  which  the  Baron  Steuben,  the 
senior  officer,  presided,  that  Major  General  Knox, 
Brigadier  General  Hand,  Brigadier  General  Hunt- 
ington  and  Captain  Shaw,  were  chosen  to  revise  the 
proposals  for  the  institution,  and  prepare  a  copy  to 
be  laid  before  the  next  meeting,  at  Baron  Steuben's 
quarters,  on  the  13th,  when  the  plan  for  establishing 
a  society  was  accepted,  and  is  as  follows  : 

"  It  having  pleased  the  Supreme  Governor  of  the 
Universe,  in  the  disposition  of  human  affairs,  to  cause 
the  separation  of  the  Colonies  of  North  America 
from  the  domination  of  Great  Britain,  and  after  a 
bloody  conflict  of  eight  years,  to  establish  them  Free, 


392  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

Independent,  and  Sovereign  States,  connected  by 
alliances,  founded  on  reciprocal  advantages,  with 
some  of  the  greatest  princes  and  powers  of  the 
earth. 

"  To  perpetuate,  therefore,  as  well  the  remem 
brance  of  this  vast  event,  as  the  mutual  friendships 
which  have  been  formed,  under  the  pressure  of  com 
mon  danger,  and  in  many  instances  cemented  by  the 
blood  of  the  parties,  the  officers  of  the  American 
army  do  hereby  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  associate, 
constitute  and  combine  themselves  into  one  Society 
of  Friends,  to  endure  so  long  as  they  shall  endure, 
or  any  of  their  eldest  male  posterity,  and  in  failure 
thereof,  the  collateral  branches,  who  may  be  judged 
worthy  of  becoming  its  supporters  and  members. 

"  The  officers  of  the  American  army  having  gen 
erally  been  taken  from  the  citizens  of  America,  pos 
sess  high  veneration  for  the  character  of  that  illustri 
ous  Roman,  Lucius  QUINTIUS  CINCINNATUS,  and 
being  resolved  to  follow  his  example,  by  returning  to 
their  citizenship,  they  think  they  may  with  propriety 
denominate  themselves  the 

SOCIETY  OF  THE  CINCINNATI. 

"  The  following  principles  shall  be  immutable,  and 
form  the  basis  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati. 

"  An  incessant  attention  to  preserve  inviolate 
those  exalted  rights  and  liberties  of  human  nature, 
for  which  they  have  fought  and  bled,  and  without 
which  the  high  rank  of  a  rational  being  is  a  curse 
instead  of  a  blessing. 

"  An  unalterable  determination  to  promote  and 
cherish,  between  the  respective  states,  that  union 
and  national  honor,  so  essentially  necessary  to  their 
happiness,  and  the  future  dignity  of  the  American 
empire. 

"  To  render  permanent  the  cordial  affection  sub 
sisting  among  the  officers,  this  spirit  will  dictate 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  393 

brotherly  kindness  in  all  things,  and  particularly  ex 
tend  to  the  most  substantial  acts  of  beneficence,  ac 
cording  to  the  ability  of  the  society,  towards  those 
officers  and  their  families,  who  unfortunately  may  be 
under  the  necessity  of  receiving  it. 

"  The  general  society  will,  for  the  sake  of  frequent 
communications,  be  divided  into  state  societies,  and 
these  again  into  such  districts  as  shall  be  directed  by 
the  state  society. 

(t  The  societies  of  the  districts  to  meet  as  often  as 
shall  be  agreed  on  by  the  state  society ;  those  of  the 
state  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  annually,  or  oftener  if 
they  shall  find  it  expedient ;  and  the  general  society 
on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  annually,  so  long  as  they 
shall  deem  it  necessary,  and  afterwards,  at  least  once 
in  every  three  years. 

"  At  each  meeting,  the  principles  of  the  institu 
tion  will  be  fully  considered,  and  the  best  measures 
to  promote  them  adopted. 

"  The  state  societies  to  have  a  president,  vice 
president,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  assistant  treasurer, 
to  be  chosen  annually  by  a  majority  of  votes,  at  the 
state  meeting. 

"  In  order  to  form  funds  which  may  be  respecta 
ble,  and  assist  the  unfortunate,  each  officer  shall  de 
liver  to  the  treasurer  of  the  state  society,  one  month's 
pay,  which  shall  remain  forever,  to  the  use  of  the 
state  society  ;  the  interest  only  of  which,  if  necessary, 
to  be  appropriated  to  the  relief  of  the  unfortunate. 

"The  society  shall  have  an  order,  by  which  its 
members  shall  be  known  and  distinguished,  which 
shall  be  a  medal  of  gold,  of  a  proper  size  to  receive 
the  emblems,  and  be  suspended  by  a  deep  blue  rib 
band,  two  inches  wide,  edged  with  white,  descrip 
tive  of  the  union  of  America  and  France." 

His  Excellency  General  Washington  officiated  as 
president  of  the  general  society  from  its  institution 
in  1783,  till  his  death,  as  did  Major  General  B.  Lin- 
50 


394  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

coin  of  the  society  of  Massachusetts.  Since  his  de 
mise  in  1810,  Governor  Brooks  has  been  annually 
elected  president.  Some  attempts  were  made  at  the 
iirst  general  meeting  in  1784,  to  alter  the  constitu 
tion  of  the  society,  in  order  that  the  hereditary  suc 
cession  of  the  members  should  be  done  away,  without 
substituting  any  means  of  perpetuating  the  existence 
of  the  society.  But  a  majority  of  the  state  societies 
did  not  approve  this  change,  and  the  institution  re 
mains  as  it  was  originally  adopted  in  1783.  The 
society  of  Massachusetts  was  incorporated  by  the 
legislature  in  the  year  1806,  and  their  by-laws  pro 
vide  that  persons  wrho  claim  admission  as  members  in 
right  of  succession  to  a  deceased  member  shall  be  the 
oldest  male  heirs,  or  collateral  branches  not  under 
twenty  one  years  of  age.  He  must  make  his  appli 
cation  to  the  standing  committee  in  writing,  and  will 
be  voted  in  by  ballot. 

In  December,  1782,  the  officers  of  the  army 
being  apprehensive  that  they  should  be  disbanded 
before  their  accounts  should  be  liquidated  and  the 
engagements  of  government  complied  with,  resolved 
to  memorialize  Congress  on  the  subject,  and  Major 
General  McDougall,  Colonel  Ogden  and  Colonel 
Brooks,  wpre  deputed  as  a  committee  to  wait  on  that 
honorable  body  requesting  their  attention  to  the  dis 
tresses  under  which  the  army  labored,  and  to  solicit 
payment  of  the  money  actually  due  to  the  army, 
and  security  for  the  commutation  of  half  pay,  stipu 
lated  by  the  resolve  of  October,  1780,  for  a  sum  in 
gross,  which  they  conceive  would  be  less  objectiona 
ble  than  the  half  pay  establishment.  Subsequent 
to  this  proceeding,  a  report  was  circulated  in  camp, 
that  Congress  did  not  mean  to  comply  with  their  re 
solves  respecting  half  pay,  &c.  This  operated  very 
powerfully  on  the  minds  of  the  officers  of  the  army, 
and  occasioned  them  to  forward  an  address  to  Con 
gress,  in  behalf  of  themselves,  and  their  brethren, 
the  soldiers.  They  asked  for  a  supply  of  money,  to 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  395 

be  forwarded  immediately  to  the  army,  for  a  settle 
ment  of  the  accounts  of  arrearages  of  pay,  and  secu 
rity  for  what  is  due  ;  for  a  commutation  of  half  for 
full  pay  for  a  certain  number  of  years,  or  for  a  sum 
in  gross,  as  should  be  agreed  on  ;  for  a  settlement 
of  accounts,  for  deficiencies  of  rations  and  compensa 
tions,  and  of  the  deficiencies  of  clothing  and  compen 
sations.  They  conclude  their  address  in  these  words  : 
"The  pressure  of  evils  and  injuries  in  the  course 
of  seven  long  years  have  made  their  condition,  in. 
many  instances,  wretched ;  they  therefore  entreat 
that  Congress,  to  convince  the  army,  and  the  world, 
that  the  Independence  of  America  shall  not  be  placed 
on  the  ruin  of  any  particular  class  of  citizens,  will 
point  out  a  mode  for  immediate  redress ;  and  that 
the  disabled  officers  and  soldiers,  with  the  widows 
and  orphans  of  those  who  have  lost  or  may  lose  their 
lives  in  the  service  of  their  country,  may  be  included, 
and  that  some  mode  be  pointed  out  for  the  eventual 
payment  of  those  soldiers,  who  are  the  subjects  of 
the  resolution  of  Congress  of  the  15th  of  May,  1778." 
In  consequence  of  this  address,  Congress  passed  the 
following  resolves,  namely, 

"  That  the  superintendent  of  finance  be  directed, 
conformably  to  the  measures  already  taken  for  that 
purpose,  so  soon  as  the  state  of  the  public  finances 
will  permit,  to  make  such  payment,  and  in  such 
manner  as  he  shall  think  proper,  till  the  further 
order  of  Congress. 

"  With  respect  to  the  second  article  of  the  address, 
the  settlement  of  accounts  of  the  arrearages  of  pay, 
that  the  several  states  be  called  on  to  complete,  with 
out  delay,  the  settlements  with  their  respective  lines 
of  the  army,  up  to  the  first  day  of  August,  1780  ; 
and  that  the  superintendent  of  finance  take  such 
measures,  as  shall  appear  to  him  most  proper  for 
effecting  the  settlement  from  this  period.  That  the 
troops  of  the  United  States,  in  common  with  all 
creditors  of  the  same,  have  an  undoubted  right  to 


396  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

expect  security?  for  what  shall  be  found  due?  and 
Congress  will  make  every  effort  in  their  power?  to 
obtain  from  the  respective  states  substantial  funds? 
adequate  to  the  object  of  funding  the  whole  debt  of 
the  United  States?  and  will  enter  on  an  immediate 
and  full  consideration  of  the  nature  of  such  funds? 
and  the  most  likely  mode  of  obtaining  them." 

The  remainder  of  the  report  of  the  committee? 
on  the  subject  of  the  address  was  referred  to  a  com 
mittee  of  five. 

General  McDougall  and  Colonel  Ogden  in  a  letter 
to  General  Knox?  made  known  to  the  army  their  suc 
cess  ?  and  Colonel  Brooks  returned  to  camp?  to  in 
form  them,  verbally,  of  the  prospect  of  commuta 
tion?  or  of  obtaining  an  equivalent  for  half  pay? 
which  they  had  proposed  in  their  address.  General 
McDougall  continued  at  Congress  on  the  army  busi 
ness?  while  the  impression  of  the  report  which  occa 
sioned  the  address  to  Congress,  however  false?  remain 
ed  on  the  minds  of  some  officers ;  notwithstanding 
Congress  were  doing  all  that  the  circumstances  of 
the  states  would  admit,  to  relieve  and  satisfy  the 
army. 

March  Wth. — In  the  midst  of  this  perturbed  state 
of  affairs  in  camp?  and  while  the  day  of  final  separa 
tion  was  supposed  to  be  near  at  hand?  the  following 
anonymous  letter?  calculated  to  exasperate  the  pas 
sions  of  the  moment,  was  privately  circulated. 

TO    THE    OFFICERS    OF    TPIE    ARMY. 

"  GENTLEMEN? — A  fellow  soldier?  whose  interest 
and  affections  bind  him  strongly  to  you?  whose  past 
sufferings  have  been  as  great,  and  whose  future  for 
tune  may  be  as  desperate,  as  yours — would  beg  leave 
to  address  you. 

"  Age  has  its  claims?  and  rank  is  not  without  its 
pretensions  to  advise ;  but?  though  unsupported  by 
both,  he  flatters  himself,  that  the  plain  language  of 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  397 

sincerity  and  experience  will  neither  be  unheard  nor 
unregarded. 

"  Like  many  of  you  he  loved  private  life,  and 
left  it  with  regret.  He  left  it,  determined  to  retire 
from  the  field,  with  the  necessity  that  called  him  to 
it,  and  not  till  then — not  till  the  enemies  of  his  coun 
try,  the  slaves  of  power,  and  the  hirelings  of  injustice, 
were  compelled  to  abandon  their  schemes,  and  ac 
knowledge  America  as  terrible  in  arms,  as  she  had 
been  humble  in  remonstrance.  With  this  object  in 
view,  he  has  long  shared  in  your  toils  and  mingled 
in  your  dangers. — He  has  felt  the  cold  hand  of  pov 
erty  without  a  murmur,  and  has  seen  the  insolence 
of  wealth  without  a  sigh. — But,  too  much  under  the 
direction  of  his  wishes,  and  sometimes  weak  enough 
to  mistake  desire  for  opinion,  he  has  till  lately — very 
lately,  believed  in  the  justice  of  his  country.  He 
hoped,  that  as  the  clouds  of  adversity  scattered,  and 
as  the  sunshine  of  peace  and  better  fortune  broke  in 
on  us,  the  coldness  and  severity  of  government  would 
relax,  and  that  more  than  justice,  that  gratitude 
would  blaze  forth  on  those  hands  which  had  upheld 
her,  in  the  darkest  stages  of  her  passage  from  im 
pending  servitude  to  acknowledged  Independence. 
But  faith  has  its  limits,  as  well  as  temper,  and  there 
are  points  beyond  which  neither  can  be  stretched, 
without  sinking  into  cowardice,  or  plunging  into 
credulity. — This,  my  friends,  I  conceive  to  be  your 
situation, — hurried  to  the  very  edge  of  both,  another 
step  would  ruin  you  forever. — To  be  tame  and  un 
provoked  when  injuries  press  hard  on  you,  is  more 
than  weakness ;  but  to  look  up  for  kinder  usage, 
without  one  manly  effort  of  your  own,  would  fix  your 
character,  and  show  the  world  how  richly  you  de 
serve  those  chains  you  broke.  To  guard  against  this 
evil,  let  us  take  a  review  of  the  ground  on  which 
we  now  stand,  and  thence  carry  our  thoughts  for 
ward  for  a  moment,  into  the  unexplored  field  of  ex 
periment. 


398  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

"  After  a  pursuit  of  seven  long  years,  the  object 
for  which  we  set  out  is  at  length  brought  within  our 
reach — yes,  my  friends,  that  suffering  courage  of 
yours  was  active  once, — it  has  conducted  the  United 
States  of  America  through  a  doubtful  and  bloody 
war.  It  has  placed  her  in  the  chair  of  independency, 
and  peace  returns  again  to  bless — who?  A  country 
willing  to  redress  your  wrongs,  cherish  your  worth 
and  reward  your  services  ?  A  country  courting  your 
return  to  private  life,  with  tears  of  gratitude,  and 
smiles  of  admiration,  longing  to  divide  with  you  that 
independency  which  your  gallantry  has  given,  and 
those  riches  which  your  wounds  have  preserved  ?  Is 
this  the  case  ?  or  is  it  rather  a  country  that  tramples 
on  your  rights,  disdains  your  cries,  and  insults  your 
distresses  ?  Have  you  not  more  than  once  suggested 
your  wishes,  and  made  known  your  wants  to  Con 
gress  ?  wants  and  wishes  which  gratitude  and  policy 
should  have  anticipated  rather  than  evaded  ;  and 
have  you  not  lately  in  the  meek  language  of  entreat 
ing  memorials,  begged  from  their  justice,  what  you 
could  no  longer  expect  from  their  favor  ?  How  have 
you  been  answered  ?  Let  the  letter  which  you  are 
called  to  consider  tomorrow  reply. 

"  If  this  then  be  your  treatment,  while  the  swords 
you  wear  are  necessary  for  the  defence  of  America, 
what  have  you  to  expect  from  peace,  when  your 
voice  shall  sink,  and  your  strength  dissipate  by  divi 
sion  ?  when  those  very  swords,  the  instruments  and 
companions  of  your  glory,  shall  be  taken  from  your 
sides,  and  no  remaining  mark  of  military  distinction 
be  left  but  your  wants,  infirmities  and  scars  ?  Can 
you  then  consent  to  be  the  only  sufferers  by  this 
revolution,  and  retiring  from  the  field,  grow  old  in 
poverty,  wretchedness  and  contempt  ?  Can  you  con 
sent  to  wade  through  the  vile  mire  of  dependency, 
and  owe  the  miserable  remnant  of  that  life  to  charity, 
which  has  hitherto  been  spent  in  honor?  If  you  can — 
go — and  carry  with  you  the  jest  of  tories  and  the 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  399 

scorn  of  whigs — the  ridicule,  and  what  is  worse,  the 
pity  of  the  world.  Go,  starve,  and  be  forgotten  ! 
But  if  your  spirit  should  revolt  at  this  ;  if  you  have 
sense  enough  to  discover,  and  spirit  enough  to  op 
pose  tyranny  under  whatever  garb  it  may  assume; 
whether  it  be  the  plain  coat  of  republicanism,  or 
the  splendid  robe  of  royalty  ;  if  you  have  not  yet 
learned  to  discriminate  between  a  people  and  a  cause, 
between  men  and  principles — awake  ;  attend  to  your 
situation,  and  redress  yourselves.  If  the  present 
moment  be  lost,  every  future  effort  is  in  vain  ;  and 
your  threats  then,  will  be  as  empty  as  your  entreaties 
now. 

"  I  would  advise  you,  therefore,  to  come  to  some 
final  opinion  on  what  you  can  bear,  and  what  you 
will  suffer.  If  your  determination  be  in  any  pro 
portion  to  your  wrongs,  carry  your  appeal  from  the 
justice,  to  the  fears  of  government.  Change  the 
milk  and  water  style  of  your  last  memorial ;  assume  a 
bolder  tone — decent,  but  lively,  spirited  and  de 
termined,  and  suspect  the  man  who  would  advise  to 
more  moderation  and  longer  forbearance.  Let  two 
or  three  men  who  can  feel  as  well  as  write,  be  ap 
pointed  to  draw  up  your  last  remonstrance,;  for  I 
would  no  longer  give  it  the  suing,  soft,  unsuccessful 
epithet  of  memorial.  Let  it  be  represented  in  lan 
guage  that  will  neither  dishonor  you  by  its  rudeness, 
nor  betray  you  by  its  fears,  what  has  been  promised 
by  Congress,  and  what  has  been  performed — how 
long  and  how  patiently  you  have  suffered — how  little 
you  have  asked,  and  how  much  of  that  little  has  been 
denied.  Tell  them,  that,  though  you  were  the  first, 
and  would  wish  to  be  the  last  to  encounter  danger, 
though  despair  itself  can  never  drive  you  into  dis 
honor,  it  may  drive  you  from  the  field ;  that  the 
wound  often  irritated,  and  never  healed,  may  at 
length  become  incurable  ;  and  that  the  slightest  mark 
of  indignity  from  Congress  now  must  operate  like 
the  grave,  and  part  you  forever  ;  that  in  any  politi- 


400  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

cal  event,  the  army  has  its  alternative.  If  peace, 
that  nothing  shall  separate  you  from  your  arms  but 
death  ;  if  war,  that  courting  the  auspices,  and  in 
viting  the  directions  of  your  illustrious  leader,  you 
will  retire  to  some  unsettled  country,  smile  in  your 
turn,  and  "mock  when  their  fear  cometh."  But  let 
it  represent  also,  that  should  they  comply  with  the 
request  of  your  late  memorial,  it  would  make  you 
more  happy,  and  them  more  respectable.  That 
while  war  should  continue,  you  would  follow  their 
standard  into  the  field,  and  when  it  came  to  an  end 
you  would  withdraw  into  the  shade  of  private  life, 
and  give  the  world  another  subject  of  wonder  and 
applause  ;  an  army  victorious  over  its  enemies — vic 
torious  over  itself." 

Alarmed  and  distressed  with  this  vile  attempt  to 
stimulate  the  army  to  rash  and  dangerous  proceedings, 
the  Commander  in  Chief  noticed  in  general  orders 
the  anonymous  address  with  his  pointed  disapproba 
tion,  and  with  the  view  of  counteracting  its  effects 
requested  that  the  general  and  field  officers,  and 
one  from  each  company,  and  a  proper  representation 
from  the  staff  of  the  army,  would  assemble  on  the 
15th  instant,  to  hear  the  report  of  the  committee 
deputed  by  the  army  to  Congress.  The  next  day  a 
second  anonymous  paper  from  the  same  pen  appear 
ed  as  follows.  "  Till  now,  the  Commander  in  Chief 
has  regarded  the  steps  you  have  taken  for  redress 
with  good  wishes  alone ;  his  ostensible  silence  has 
authorized  your  meetings,  and  his  private  opinion 
sanctified  your  claims.  Had  he  disliked  the  object 
in  view,  would  not  the  same  sense  of  duty  which 
forbade  you  from  meeting  on  the  third  day  of  the 
week,  have  forbidden  you  from  meeting  on  the 
seventh  ?  Is  not  the  same  subject  held  up  for  your 
discussion  ?  and  has  it  not  passed  the  seal  of  office, 
and  taken  all  the  solemnity  of  an  order  ?  this  will 
give  system  to  your  proceedings,  and  stability  to  your 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,   1783.  401 

resolves.  It  will  ripen  speculation  into  fact,  and 
while  it  adds  to  the  unanimity,  it  cannot  possibly 
lessen  the  independency  of  your  sentiments.  It  may 
be  necessary  to  add  on  this  subject,  that,  from  the 
injunction  with  which  the  general  orders  close,  every 
man  is  at  liberty  to  conclude  that  the  report  to  be 
made  to  head  quarters  is  intended  for  Congress. 
Hence  will  arise  another  motive  for  that  energy 
which  has  been  recommended  ;  for,  can  you  give  the 
lie  to  the  pathetic  descriptions,  and  the  more  alarm 
ing  predictions  of  our  friends."* 

On  the  15th  instant,  the  convention  of  officers 
assembled,  and  General  Gates  presided.  The  Com 
mander  in  Chief  delivered  to  them  the  following  very 
interesting  and  feeling  address. 

"GENTLEMEN, — By  an  anonymous  summons  an  at 
tempt  has  been  made  to  convene  you  together.  How 
inconsistent  with  the  rules  of  propriety,  how  unmil- 
itary,  and  how  subversive  of  all  order  and  discipline, 
let  the  good  sense  of  the  army  decide. 

"  In  the  moment  of  this  summons,  another  anony 
mous  production  was  sent  into  circulation,  addressed 
more  to  the  feelings  and  passions  than  to  the  judgment 

*With  respect  to  the  author  of  the  Newburgh  anonymous  letter?,  sus 
picion  has  ever  rested  on  John  Armstrong,  who  at  the  time  of  their 
appearance  was  a  Major  in  the  army,  and  for  some  time  aid  de  camp 
to  Major  General  Gates.  Though  many  circumstances  conspired  to 
fix  this  suspicion  on  Major  Armstrong  and  a  few  confederates,  the  real 
fact  has  never  been  established  till  recently.  In  the  last  number  of  the 
United  States  Magazine,  published  in  New  York,  General  Armstrong  has 
announced  himself  to  be  the  author  of  these  notorious  letters.  In  justifi 
cation  of  his  motives  he  maintains  "that  they  were  written  by  himself  at 
the  solicitation  of  his  friends  as  the  chosen  organ  to  express  the  sentiments 
of  the  officers  of  the  army,  and  were  only  an  honest  and  manly,  though 
perhaps  an  indiscreet  endeavor  to  support  public  credit  and  do  justice 
to  a  long  suffering,  patient,  and  gallant  soldiery."  In  the  same  publication, 
General  Armstrong  has  thought  proper  to  risk  his  reputation  on  the  bold 
and  unqualified  assertion,  that  the  slander  propagated  and  believed  for 
half  a  century,  that  two  distinguished  officers  of  the  revolution  had 
conspired  to  put  down  the  Commander  in  Chief,  is  an  impudent  and 
vile  falsehood  from  beginning  to  end.  The  young  reader  who  may  not 
be  apprized  of  the  circumstances  on  which  the  evidence  of  this  con 
spiracy  rests,  is  referred  to  the  biography  of  Generals  Lee,  Gates  and 
Conway,  in  the  Appendix. 

51 


402  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

of  the  army.  The  author  of  the  piece  is  entitled  to 
much  credit  for  the  goodness  of  his  pen  ;  and  I  could 
wish  he  had  as  much  credit  for  the  rectitude  of  his 
heart ;  for,  as  men  see  through  different  optics,  and 
are  induced  by  the  reflecting  faculties  of  the  mind, 
to  use  different  means  to  attain  the  same  end,  the 
author  of  the  address  should  have  had  more  chanty 
than  to  <  mark  for  suspicion  the  man  who  should  re 
commend  moderation  and  longer  forbearance  ;?  or  in 
other  words,  who  should  not  think  as  he  thinks,  and 
act  as  he  advises.  But  he  had  another  plan  in 
view,  in  which  candor  and  liberality  of  sentiment, 
regard  to  justice  and  love  of  country,  have  no  part ; 
and  he  was  right  to  insinuate  the  darkest  suspicion 
to  effect  the  blackest  design.  That  the  address  was 
drawn  with  great  art,  and  is  designed  to  answer  the 
most  insidious  purposes  ;  that  it  is  calculated  to  im 
press  the  mind  with  an  idea  of  premeditated  injus 
tice  in  the  sovereign  power  of  the  United  States,  and 
rouse  all  those  resentments,  which  must  unavoidably 
flow  from  such  a  belief;  that  the  secret  mover  of 
this  scheme,  whoever  he  may  be,  intended  to  take 
advantage  of  the  passions,  while  they  were  warmed 
by  the  recollection  of  past  distresses,  without  giving 
time  for  cool,  deliberative  thinking,  and  that  com 
posure  of  mind  which  is  so  necessary  to  give  dignity 
and  stability  to  measures,  is  rendered  too  obvious,  by 
the  mode  of  conducting  the  business,  to  need  other 
proof  than  a  reference  to  the  proceedings. 

"Thus  much,  gentlemen,  I  have  thought  it  incum 
bent  on  me  to  observe  to  you  to  show  on  what  prin 
ciples  I  opposed  the  irregular  and  hasty  meeting 
which  was  proposed  to  have  been  held  on  Tuesday 
last,  and  not  because  I  wanted  a  disposition  to  give 
you  every  opportunity,  consistently  with  your  own 
honor,  and  the  dignity  of  the  army,  to  make  known 
your  grievances.  If  my  conduct  heretofore  has  not 
evinced  to  you,  that  T  have  been  a  faithful  friend  to 
the  army,  my  declaration  of  it  at  this  time  would  be 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783.  403 

equally  unavailing  and  improper.  But  as  I  was 
among  the  first  who  embarked  in  the  cause  of  our 
common  country ;  as  I  have  never  left  your  side  one 
moment,  but  when  called  from  you  on  public  duty ; 
as  I  have  been  the  constant  companion  and  witness  of 
your  distresses,  and  not  among  the  last  to  feel  and 
acknowledge  your  merits ;  as  I  have  ever  considered 
my  own  military  reputation  as  inseparably  connected 
with  that  of  the  army  ;  as  my  heart  has  ever  expand 
ed  with  joy  when  I  have  heard  its  praises,  and  my 
indignation  has  arisen  when  the  mouth  of  detraction 
has  been  opened  against  it ;  it  can  scarcely  be  sup 
posed  at  this  last  stage  of  the  war,  that  I  am  indif- 
ierent  to  its  interests.  But  how  are  they  to  be  pro 
moted  ?  The  way  is  plain,  says  the  anonymous  ad 
dresser  !  'If  war  continues,  remove  into  the  unsettled 
country  ;  there  establish  yourselves,  and  leave  an 
ungrateful  country  to  defend  itself  !7  But  who  are 
they  to  defend?  our  wives,  our  children,  our  farms 
and  other  property  which  we  leave  behind  us?  or  in 
this  state  of  hostile  separation,  are  we  to  take  the  two 
first,  the  latter  cannot  be  removed,  to  perish  in  a 
wilderness,  with  hunger,  cold  and  nakedness  ? 

'  If  peace  takes  place,  never  sheath  your  swords/ 
says  he,  <  till  you  have  obtained  full  and  ample  jus 
tice.'  This  dreadful  alternative  of  either  deserting 
our  country  in  the  extremest  hour  of  her  distress,  or 
turning  our  arms  against  it,  which  is  the  apparent  ob 
ject,  unless  Congress  can  be  compelled  into  instant 
compliance,  has  something  so  shocking  in  it,  that 
humanity  revolts  at  the  idea.  My  God  !  what  can 
this  writer  have  in  view,  by  recommending  such 
measures?  Can  he  be  a  friend  to  the  army?  Can  he 
be  a  friend  to  this  country?  rather,  is  he  not  an 
insidious  foe  ;  some  emissary,  perhaps,  from  New 
York,  plotting  the  ruin  of  both,  by  sowing  the  seeds 
of  discord  and  separation  between  the  civil  and  mili 
tary  powers  of  the  continent?  And  what  a  compliment 
does  he  pay  our  understandings,  when  he  recom- 


404  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

mends  measures,  in  either  alternative,  impracticable 
in  their  nature  ?  But  here,  gentlemen,  I  will  drop  the 
curtain,  because  it  would  be  as  imprudent  in  me  to 
assign  my  reasons  for  this  opinion,  as  it  would  be  in 
sulting  to  your  conception  to  suppose  you  stood  in 
need  of  them.  A  moment's  reflection  will  convince 
every  dispassionate  mind  of  the  physical  impossibility 
of  carrying  either  proposal  into  execution.  There 
might,  gentlemen,  be  an  impropriety  in  my  taking 
notice,  in  this  address  to  you,  of  an  anonymous  pro 
duction  ;  but  the  manner  in  which  this  performance 
has  been  introduced  to  the  army  ;  the  effect  it  was 
intended  to  have,  together  with  some  other  circum 
stances,  will  amply  justify  my  observations  on  the  ten 
dency  of  this  writing. 

"  With  respect  to  the  advice  given  by  the  author, 
to  suspect  the  man  who  shall  recommend  moderate 
measures  and  longer  forbearance,  I  spurn  it,  as  every 
man  who  regards  that  liberty  and  reveres  that  justice 
for  which  we  contend,  undoubtedly  must ;  for  if  men 
are  to  be  precluded  from  offering  their  sentiments 
on  a  matter  which  may  involve  the  most  serious  and 
alarming  consequences  that  can  invite  the  considera 
tion  of  mankind,  reason  is  of  no  use  to  us.  The  free 
dom  of  speech  may  be  taken  away,  and  dumb  and 
silent,  we  may  be  led,  like  sheep  to  the  slaughter.  I 
cannot  in  justice  to  my  own  belief,  and  what  I  have 
great  reason  to  conceive  is  the  intention  of  Congress, 
conclude  this  address,  without  giving  it  as  my  de 
cided  opinion,  that,  that  honorable  body  entertain 
exalted  sentiments  of  the  services  of  the  army,  and 
from  a  full  conviction  of  its  merits  and  sufferings, 
will  do  it  complete  justice.  That  their  endeavors  to 
discover  and  establish  funds  for  this  purpose  have 
been  unwearied,  and  will  not  cease  till  they  have 
succeeded,  I  have  not  a  doubt. 

"  But  like  all  other  large  bodies,  where  there  is  a 
variety  of  different  interests  to  reconcile,  their  deter 
minations  are  slow.  Why  then  should  we  distrust 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  405 

them  ?  and  in  consequence  of  this  distrust,  adopt 
measures  which  may  cast  a  shade  over  that  glory 
which  has  been  so  justly  acquired,  and  tarnish  the 
reputation  of  an  army  which  is  celebrated  through 
all  Europe  for  its  fortitude  and  patriotism  ?  And 
for  what  is  this  done  ?  to  bring  the  object  we  seek 
nearer  ?  No,  most  certainly  in  my  opinion,  it  will  cast 
it  at  a  greater  distance.  For  myself,  and  I  .take  no 
merit  in  giving  the  assurance,  being  induced  to  it 
from  principles  of  gratitude,  veracity,  and  justice, 
and  a  grateful  sense  of  the  confidence  you  have  ever 
placed  in  me,  a  recollection  of  the  cheerful  assistance 
and  prompt  obedience  I  have  experienced  from  you, 
under  every  vicissitude  of  fortune,  and  the  sincere 
affection  I  feel  for  an  army  I  have  so  long  had  the 
honor  to  command,  will  oblige  me  to  declare  in  this 
public  and  solemn  manner,  that  in  the  attainment  of 
complete  justice  for  all  your  toils  and  dangers,  and 
in  the  gratification  of  every  wish  so  far  as  may  be 
done  consistently  with  the  great  duty  I  owe  my  coun 
try,  and  those  powers  we  are  bound  to  respect,  you 
may  freely  command  my  services  to  the  utmost  extent 
of  my  abilities. 

"  While  I  give  you  these  assurances,  and  pledge 
myself  in  the  most  unequivocal  manner,  to  exert 
whatever  abilities  I  am  possessed  of  in  your  favor, 
let  me  entreat  you,  gentlemen,  on  your  part,  not  to 
take  any  measures,  which  viewed  in  the  calm  light  of 
reason,  will  lessen  the  dignity,  and  sully  the  glory 
you  have  hitherto  maintained.  Let  me  request  you 
to  rely  on  the  plighted  faith  of  your  country,  and 
place  a  full  confidence  in  the  purity  of  the  intentions 
of  Congress ;  that,  previous  to  your  dissolution  as  an 
army,  they  will  cause  4all  your  accounts  to  be  fairly 
liquidated  as  directed  in  the  resolutions  which  were 
published  to  you  two  days  ago  ;  and  that  they  will 
adopt  the  most  effectual  measures  in  their  power  to 
render  ample  justice  to  you  for  your  faithful  and 
meritorious  services.  And  let  me  conjure  you  in  the 


406  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

name  of  our  common  country,  as  you  value  your  own 
sacred  honor  ;  as  you  respect  the  rights  of  humanity ; 
and  as  you  regard  the  military  and  national  character 
of  America ;  to  express  your  utmost  horror  and  de 
testation  of  the  man,  who  wishes,  under  any  specious 
pretences  to  overturn  the  liberties  of  our  country ; 
and  who  wickedly  attempts  to  open  the  flood  gates 
of  civil-  discord,  and  deluge  our  rising  empire  in 
blood. 

"  By  thus  determining,  and  thus  acting,  you  will 
pursue  the  plain  and  direct  road  to  the  attainment  of 
your  wishes  ;  you  will  defeat  the  insidious  designs  of 
our  enemies,  who  are  compelled  to  resort  from  open 
force  to  secret  artifice.  You  will  give  one  more  dis 
tinguished  proof  of  unexampled  patriotism  and  patient 
virtue,  rising  superior  to  the  pressure  of  the  most 
complicated  sufferings ;  and  you  will,  by  the  dignity 
of  your  conduct,  afford  occasion  for  posterity  to  say, 
when  speaking  of  the  glorious  example  you  have 
exhibited  to  mankind — -had  this  day  been  wanting 
the  world  had  never  seen  the  last  stage  of  perfection 
to  which  human  nature  is  capable  of  attaining." 

Having  finished  his  incomparable  and  very  effica 
cious  address,  his  Excellency  withdrew  and  the  con 
vention  unanimously  resolved  to  present  him  their 
thanks,  and  that  he  be  assured  "  that  the  officers  re 
ciprocate  his  affectionate  expressions  with  the  great 
est  sincerity  of  which  the  human  heart  is  capable/' 
After  which,  General  Knox,  Colonel  Brooks,  and 
Captain  Howard  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pre 
pare  resolutions  expressive  of  the  business  of  the  con 
vention,  and  to  report  in  half  an  hour.  They  re 
ported,  and  the  convention  ••'  Resolved  unanimously, 
that,  at  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  the 
officers  of  the  American  army  engaged  in  the  service 
of  their  country  from  the  purest  love  and  attachment 
to  the  rights  and  liberties  of  human  nature;  which 
motives  still  exist  in  the  highest  degree  ;  and  that 
no  circumstances  of  distress  or  danger  shall  induce  a 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  407 

conduct  that  may  tend  to  sully  the  reputation  and 
glory  which  they  have  acquired,  at  the  price  of  their 
blood  and  eight  years  faithful  services. 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  that  the  army  continue 
to  have  an  unshaken  confidence  in  the  justice  of  Con 
gress  and  their  country,  and  are  fully  convinced  that 
the  representatives  of  America  will  not  dishand  or 
disperse  the  army  till  their  accounts  are  liquidated, 
the  balances  accurately  ascertained,  and  adequate 
funds  established  for  payment ;  and  in  this  arrange 
ment,  the  officers  expect  that  the  half  pay,  or  a  com 
mutation  for  it,  should  be  efficaciously  comprehended. 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  that  his  Excellency  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  he  requested  to  write  to  his 
Excellency  the  President  of  Congress,  earnestly  en 
treating  the  most  speedy  decision  of  that  honorable 
body  on  the  subject  of  our  late  address,  which  was 
forwarded  by  a  committee  of  the  army,  some  of  whom 
are  waiting  on  Congress  for  the  result.  In  the  alter 
native  of  peace  or  war,  this  event  would  be  highly 
satisfactory,  and  would  produce  immediate  tran 
quillity  in  the  minds  of  the  army,  and  prevent  any 
further  machinations  of  designing  men,  to  sow  dis 
cord  between  the  civil  and  military  powers  of  the 
United  States. 

"  On  motion,  resolved  unanimously,  that  the  offi 
cers  of  the  American  army  view  with  abhorrence, 
and  reject  with  disdain,  the  infamous  propositions 
contained  in  a  late  anonymous  address  to  the  officers 
of  the  army,  and  resent  with  indignation  the  secret 
attempts  of  some  unknown  persons  to  collect  the  offi 
cers  together,  in  a  manner  totally  subversive  of  all 
discipline  and  good  order. 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  that  the  thanks  of  the 
officers  of  the  army  be  given  to  the  committee  who 
presented  to  Congress  the  late  address  of  the  army, 
for  the  wisdom  and  prudence  with  which  they  have 
conducted  that  business  ;  and  that  a  copy  of  the  pro 
ceedings  of  this  day  be  transmitted  by  the  president 


408  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

to  Major  General  McDougall ;  and  that  he  be  re 
quested  to  continue  his  solicitations  at  Congress,  till 
the  objects  of  his  mission  are  accomplished." 

The  result  of  the  foregoing  proceedings  was,  by 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  transmitted  to  Congress, 
accompanied  by  an  impressive  letter,  of  which  the 
following  is  an  extract.  "  That  in  the  critical  and 
perilous  moment  when  the  last  mentioned  communi 
cation  was  made,  there  was  the  utmost  danger  that  a 
dissolution  of  the  army  would  have  taken  place,  un 
less  measures  similar  to  those  recommended  had  been 
adopted,  will  not  admit  of  a  doubt.  That  the  adop 
tion  of  the  resolution  granting  half  pay  for  life  has 
been  attended  with  all  the  happy  consequences  I  had 
foretold,  so  far  as  respected  the  good  of  the  service,  let 
the  astonishing  contrast  between  the  state  of  the  army 
at  this  instant,  and  at  the  former  period  determine. 

((  And  that  the  establishment  of  funds,  and  security 
of  the  payment  of  all  the  just  demands  of  the  army 
will  be  the  most  certain  means  of  preserving  the 
national  faith  and  future  tranquillity  of  this  extensive 
continent,  is  my  decided  opinion.  By  the  preceding 
remarks,  it  will  readily  be  imagined,  that  instead  of 
retracting  and  reprehending,  from  further  experi 
ence  and  reflection,  the  mode  of  compensation  so 
strenuously  urged  in  the  enclosures,  I  am  more  and 
more  confirmed  in  the  sentiment,  and  if  in  the  wrong, 
suffer  me  to  please  myself  with  the  grateful  delusion. 
For,  if,  besides  the  simple  payment  of  their  wages,  a 
further  compensation  is  not  due  to  the  sufferings  and 
sacrifices  of  the  officers,  then  have  I  been  mistaken 
indeed.  If  the  whole  army  have  not  merited  what 
ever  a  grateful  people  can  bestow,  then  have  I  been 
beguiled  by  prejudice,  and  built  opinion  on  the  basis 
of  error.  If  this  country  should  not  in  the  event 
perform  every  thing  which  has  been  requested  in  the 
late  memorials  to  Congress,  then  will  my  belief  be 
come  vain,  and  the  hope  that  has  been  excited  void 
of  foundation.  And  if,  as  has  been  suggested  for  the 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  409 

purpose  of  inflaming  their  passions,  the  officers  of  the 
array  are  to  be  the  only  sufferers  by  this  revolution, 
if,  retiring  from  the  field,  they  are  to  grow  old  in 
poverty,  wretchedness,  and  contempt;  if  they  are  to 
wade  through  the  vile  mire  of  dependency,  and  owe 
the  miserable  remnant  of  that  life  to  charity,  which 
has  hitherto  been  spent  in  honor,  then  shall  I  have 
learned  what  ingratitude  is,  then  shall  I  have  realized 
a  tale  which  will  embitter  every  moment  of  my  future 
life.  But  I  am  under  no  such  apprehensions  ;  a  coun 
try  rescued  by  their  arms  from  impending  ruin,  will 
never  leave  unpaid  the  debt  of  gratitude. 

G.  WASHINGTON." 

March  22d. — Congress  at  length  came  to  the  fol 
lowing  resolutions : 

"  Whereas  the  officers  of  the  several  lines  under 
the  immediate  command  of  his  Excellency  General 
Washington,  did  by  their  late  memorial  transmitted, 
represent  to  Congress,  that  the  half  pay  granted  by 
sundry  resolutions  was  regarded  in  an  unfavorable 
light  by  the  citizens  of  some  of  the  states,  who  would 
prefer  a  compensation  for  a  limited  term  of  years,  or 
by  a  sum  in  gross,  to  an  establishment  for  life ;  and 
did,  on  this  account,  solicit  a  commutation  of  their 
half  pay  for  an  equivalent,  in  one  of  the  modes  above- 
mentioned,  in  order  to  remove  all  subjects  of  dissatis 
faction  from  the  minds  of  their  fellow  citizens :  And 
whereas  Congress  are  desirous,  as  well  of  gratifying 
the  reasonable  expectations  of  the  officers  of  the  army, 
as  of  removing  all  objections  which  may  exist  in  any 
part  of  the  United  States  to  the  principles  of  the  half 
pay  establishment,  for  which  the  faith  of  the  United 
States  has  been  pledged  ;  persuaded  that  these  ob 
jections  can  only  arise  from  the  nature  of  the  com 
pensation,  not  from  any  indisposition  to  compensate 
those  whose  services,  sacrifices,  and  sufferings,  have  so 
justly  a  title  to  the  approbation  and  rewards  of  their 
country : 

52 


410  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

"  Therefore  resolved,  that  such  officers  as  are  now 
in  service,  and  shall  continue  therein  to  the  end  of 
the  war,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  amount  of 
five  years  full  pay  in  money,  or  securities  on  interest 
at  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  as  Congress  shall  find  most 
convenient,  instead  of  the  half  pay  promised  for  life, 
by  the  resolution  of  the  21st  day  of  October,  1780, 
the  said  securities  to  be  such,  as  shall  be  given  to  the 
creditors  of  the  United  States.  Provided  that  it  be 
at  the  option  of  the  lines  of  the  respective  states,  to 
accept  or  refuse  the  same.  And  provided  also,  that 
their  election  shall  be  signified  to  Congress,  through 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  from  the  lines  under  his 
immediate  command  within  two  months  ;  and  through 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  southern  army,  from 
those  under  his  command,  within  six  months,  from 
the  date  of  this  resolution. 

"  That  the  same  computation  shall  extend  to  the 
corps  not  belonging  to  the  lines  of  particular  states, 
and  who  are  entitled  to  half  pay  for  life  as  aforesaid  ; 
the  acceptance  or  refusal  to  be  determined  by  corps, 
and  to  be  signified  in  the  same  manner,  and  within 
the  same  time  as  above  mentioned. 

"  That  all  officers  belonging  to  the  hospital  depart 
ment,  who  are  entitled  to  half  pay  by  the  resolution 
of  the  17th  day  of  January,  1781,  may  collectively 
agree  to  accept,  or  refuse  the  aforesaid  commutation, 
signifying  the  same  through  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
within  six  months  from  this  time. 

"  That  such  officers  as  have  retired  at  different 
periods,  entitled  to  half  pay  for  life,  may,  collectively 
in  each  state,  in  which  they  are  inhabitants,  accept 
or  refuse  the  same  ;  their  acceptation  or  refusal  to  be 
signified  by  agents,  authorized  for  this  purpose,  with 
in  six  months  from  this  period.  That  with  respect 
to  such  retiring  officers,  the  commutation,  if  accepted 
by  them,  shall  be  in  lieu  of  whatever  may  be  now 
due  to  them,  since  the  time  of  their  retiring  from 
service,  as  well  as  of  what  might  hereafter  become 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  411 

due,  and  that  as  soon  as  their  acceptance  shall  be 
signified,  the  superintendent  of  finance  be,  and  he  is 
hereby,  directed  to  take  measures  for  the  settlement 
of  their  accounts  accordingly,  and  to  issue  to  them 
certificates  bearing  interest  at  six  per  cent. 

"  That  all  officers  entitled  to  half  pay  for  life,  not 
included  in  the  preceding  resolution,  may  also  collec 
tively  agree  to  accept,  or  refuse  the  aforesaid  com 
mutation,  signifying  the  same  within  six  months  from 
this  time." 

jSpril  18th. — The  Commander  in  Chief  thus  ad 
dressed  the  army  on  the  cessation  of  hostilities  : 

"  The  Commander  in  Chief  orders  the  cessation  of 
hostilities,  between  the  United  States  of  America  and 
the  King  of  Great  Britain,  to  be  publicly  proclaimed 
tomorrow  at  twelve  o'clock,  at  the  New  Building; 
and  that  the  proclamation  which  will  be  communi 
cated  herewith,  be  read  tomorrow  evening,  at  the 
head  of  every  regiment  and  corps  of  the  army ;  after 
which,  the  chaplains,  with  the  several  brigades,  will 
render  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  all  his  mercies, 
particularly  for  his  overruling  the  wrath  of  man  to 
his  own  glory,  and  causing  the  rage  of  war  to  cease 
among  the  nations." 

Though  the  proclamation  before  alluded  to,  ex 
tends  only  to  the  prohibition  of  hostilities,  and  not  to 
the  annunciation  of  a  general  peace,  yet  it  must  afford 
the  most  rational  and  sincere  satisfaction  to  every 
benevolent  mind,  as  it  puts  a  period  to  a  long  and 
doubtful  contest — stops  the  effusion  of  human  blood 
— opens  the  prospect  to  a  more  splendid  scene — -and, 
like  another  morning  star,  promises  the  approach  of 
a  brighter  day  than  has  hitherto  illuminated  this 
western  hemisphere  !  On  such  a  happy  day — a  day 
which  is  the  harbinger  of  peace — a  day  which  com 
pletes  the  eighth  year  of  the  war,  it  would  be  in 
gratitude  not  to  rejoice  :  it  would  be  insensibility  not 
to  participate  in  the  general  felicity. 


412  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

"  The  Commander  in  Chief,  far  from  endeavoring 
to  stifle  the  feelings  of  joy  in  his  own  bosom,  offers  his 
most  cordial  congratulations  on  the  occasion,  to  all  the 
officers  of  every  denomination — to  all  the  troops  of 
the  United  States  in  general,  and  in  particular  to 
those  gallant  and  persevering  men  who  had  resolved 
to  defend  the  rights  of  their  invaded  country  so  long 
as  the  war  should  continue ;  for  these  are  the  men 
who  ought  to  be  considered  as  the  pride  and  boast  of 
the  American  army,  and  who,  crowned  with  wrell- 
earned  laurels,  may  soon  withdraw  from  the  field  of 
glory,  to  the  more  tranquil  walks  of  civil  life. 

"  While  the  general  recollects  the  almost  infinite 
variety  of  scenes  through  which  we  have  passed  with 
a  mixture  of  pleasure,  astonishment,  and  gratitude — 
while  he  contemplates  the  prospects  before  us  with 
rapture, — he  cannot  help  wishing  that  all  the  brave 
men,  of  whatever  condition  they  may  be,  who  have 
shared  in  the  toils  and  dangers  of  effecting  this  glori 
ous  revolution,  of  rescuing  millions  from  the  hand  of 
oppression,  and  of  laying  the  foundation  of  a  great 
empire,  might  be  impressed  with  a  proper  idea  of  the 
dignified  part  they  have  been  called  to  act,  under 
the  smiles  of  Providence,  on  the  stage  of  human  af 
fairs  ;  for  happy,  thrice  happy,  shall  they  be  pro 
nounced  hereafter,  who  have  contributed  any  thing, 
who  have  performed  the  meanest  office  in  erecting 
this  stupendous  fabric  of  Freedom  and  Empire,  on 
the  broad  basis  of  independency  $  who  have  assisted 
in  protecting  the  rights  of  human  nature,  and  estab 
lishing  an  asylum  for  the  poor  and  oppressed  of  all 
nations  and  religions. 

"  The  glorious  task  for  which  we  first  flew  to  arms, 
being  thus  accomplished, — the  liberties  of  our  coun 
try  being  fully  acknowledged  and  firmly  secured,  by 
the  smiles  of  Heaven  on  the  purity  of  our  cause,  and 
the  honest  exertions  of  a  feeble  people,  determined 
to  be  free,  against  a  powerful  nation  disposed  to  op 
press  them  ;  and  the  character  of  those  who  have 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  413 

persevered  through  every  extremity  of  hardship,  suf 
fering,  and  danger,  being  immortalized  by  the  illus 
trious  appellation  of  the  Patriot  Army, — nothing  now 
remains  but  for  the  actors  of  this  mighty  scene  to 
preserve  a  perfect,  unvarying  consistency  of  charac 
ter  through  the  very  last  act ;  to  close  the  drama 
with  applause  ;  and  to  retire  from  the  military  thea 
tre  with  the  same  approbation  of  angels  and  men, 
which  have  crowned  all  their  former  virtuous  ac 
tions. 

"  For  this  purpose,  no  disorder  or  licentiousness 
must  be  tolerated ;  every  considerate  and  well  dis 
posed  soldier  must  remember  it  will  be  absolutely 
necessary  to  wait  with  patience,  till  peace  shall  be 
declared,  or  Congress  shall  be  enabled  to  take  proper 
measures  for  the  security  of  the  public  stores,  &c. 
So  soon  as  these  arrangements  shall  be  made,  the 
general  is  confident  there  will  be  no  delay  in  dis 
charging,  with  every  mark  of  distinction  and  honor, 
all  the  men  enlisted  for  the  war,  who  will  then  have 
faithfully  performed  their  engagements  with  the  pub 
lic.  The  general  has  already  interested  himself  in 
their  behalf ;  and  he  thinks  he  need  not  repeat  the 
assurances  of  his  disposition  to  be  useful  to  them  on 
the  present,  and  every  other  proper  occasion.  In  the 
mean  time,  he  is  determined  that  no  military  neglects 
or  excesses  shall  go  unpunished,  while  he  retains  the 
command  of  the  army. 

"  The  adjutant  general  will  have  such  working 
parties  detailed  to  assist  in  making  the  preparation 
for  a  general  rejoicing  as  the  chief  engineer,  with  the 
army,  shall  call  for ;  and  the  quarter  master  general 
will  also  furnish  such  materials  as  he  may  want.  The 
quarter  master  general  will,  without  delay,  procure 
such  a  number  of  discharges  to  be  printed  as  will  be 
sufficient  for  all  the  men  enlisted  for  the  war ;  he 
will  please  to  apply  to  head  quarters  for  the  form. 

"  An  extra  ration  of  liquor  to  be  issued  to  every 
man  tomorrow,  to  drink  perpetual  peace,  indepen- 


414  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

dcnce  and  happiness  to  the  United  States  of  Ame 


rica" 


The  officers  of  the  army,  by  their  committee,  pre 
pared  the  following  address  to  the  Commander  in 
Chief: 

"  SIR, — It  is  difficult  for  us  to  express  the  regret 
we  feel  at  being  obliged  again  to  solicit  your  Excel 
lency's  attention  and  patronage.  Next  to  the  anguish 
which  the  prospect  of  our  own  wretchedness  excites 
in  our  breasts,  is  the  pain  which  arises  from  the 
knowledge  of  your  anxiety  on  account  of  those  men 
who  have  been  the  sharers  of  your  fortunes,  and  have 
had  the  honor  of  being  your  companions  through  the 
various  vicissitudes  of  the  war.  Nothing,  therefore, 
but  necessity,  could  induce  us  to  a  representation 
which  we  know  must  give  you  concern. 

"  Your  Excellency  has  so  intimate  a  knowledge  of 
the  condition  of  the  army,  as  to  render  a  particular 
delineation  unnecessary.     As  you  have  been  a  wit 
ness  of  our  sufferings  during  a  war  uncommon  in  its 
nature,  and  unparalleled  in  many  circumstances  at 
tending  it ;  so  you  are  now,  Sir,  no  less  a  witness  of 
the  unequal  burden  which  has  fallen  on  us,  from  the 
want  of  that  provision,  to  which,  from  our  assiduous 
and  unremitting  services,  we  conceive  wre  are  entitled. 
Having  recently   expressed  our  sense  of  what  was 
due  to  our  distress ;  having  repeated  to  your  Excel 
lency  the  confidence  we  had,  that  our  accounts  would 
be  liquidated,  the  balances  ascertained,  and  adequate 
funds  provided  for  payment,  previous  to  our  being 
dispersed  or  disbanded ;  having  seen  with  pleasure, 
the  approbation  which  Congress  gave  our  reliance,  it 
is  with  a  mixture  of  astonishment  and  chagrin  that  we 
view  the  late  resolve   of  Congress,  by  which  the  sol 
diers  for  the  war,  and  a  proportionate  number  of  offi 
cers,  are  to  be  furloughed  without  any  one  of  those 
important  objects  being  accomplished;  and,  to  com 
plete  the  scene  of  woe,  are  to  be  compelled  to  leave 
the  army  without  the  means  of  defraying  the  debts  we 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  415 

have  necessarily  incurred  in  the  course  of  service,  or 
even  of  gratifying  those  menials  in  the  pittance  which 
is  their  due  ;  much  less  to  carry  with  us  that  support 
and  comfort  to  our  families,  of  which,  from  our  long 
military  services  they  have  been  deprived.  No  less 
exposed  to  the  insults  of  the  meanest  followers  of  the 
army,  than  to  the  arrests  of  the  sheriff — deprived  of 
the  ability  to  assist  our  families,  and  without  an  evi 
dence  that  any  thing  is  due  to  us  for  our  services, 
and  consequently  without  the  least  prospect  of  obtain 
ing  credit  for  even  a  temporary  subsistence,  till  we 
can  get  into  business, — to  what  quarter  can  we  look  ? 
We  take  the  liberty  to  say  this,  Sir,  only  to  your  Ex 
cellency  ;  and,  from  the  sincerity  of  our  hearts,  we 
do  it  no  less  from  a  persuasion  of  the  efficacy  of  your 
further  efforts  in  our  favor,  than  from  the  kind  as 
surances  you  have  been  pleased  to  give  us  of  your 
support. 

"  To  your  Excellency,  then,  we  make  one  appeal, 
and  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  from  that  abhorrence 
of  oppression  and  injustice  which  first  unsheathed 
our  swords ;  from  the  remembrance  of  the  common 
dangers  through  which  we  have  parsed  ;  and  from 
the  recollection  of  those  astonishing  events,  which 
have  been  effected  by  our  united  efforts, — permit  us 
to  solicit  your  further  aid,  and  to  entreat  that  the 
order  of  the  2d  instant,  founded  on  the  act  of  Con 
gress  of  the  26th  of  May  last,  may  be  suspended  or 
varied  in  its  operation,  so  far  as  that  no  officer  or  sol 
dier  be  obliged  to  receive  a  furlough  till  that  honor 
able  body  can  be  apprized  of  the  wretched  situation 
into  which  the  army  must  be  plunged  by  a  confor 
mity  to  it ;  that  your  Excellency  will  endeavor  to 
prevail  on  Congress, — nay,  that  on  the  principles  of 
common  justice,  you  will  insist  that  neither  officer 
nor  soldier  be  compelled  to  leave  the  field  till  a  liqui 
dation  of  accounts  can  be  effected,  till  the  balances 
are  ascertained,  certificates  for  the  sums  due,  given, 
including  the  commutation  of  half  pay  to  the  officers 


416  REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,  1783. 

and  gratuity  of  eighty  dollars  to  the  soldiers ;  and 
till  a  supply  of  money  can  be  furnished,  sufficient  to 
carry  us  from  the  field  of  glory,  with  honor  to  our 
selves  and  credit  to  our  country.  We  still  wish  to 
believe,  that  that  country,  to  which  we  have  been 
so  long  devoted,  will  never  look  with  indifference,  on 
the  distresses  of  those  of  her  sons,  who  have  so  essen 
tially  contributed  to  the  establishment  of  freedom, 
the ,  security  of  property,  and  the  rearing  of  an  em 
pire. 

"  In  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  generals  and 
officers  commanding  regiments  and  corps,  in  the  can 
tonment  on  Hudson's  river, 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  highest  respect, 
Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servant, 

W.  HEATH,  Major  General,  President. 
July  5th,  1783." 

To  the  foregoing  address  General  Washington  was 
pleased  to  make  an  affectionate  reply,  in  which  among 
other  things  he  observes,  that  as  furloughs  in  all  ser 
vices  are  considered  as  a  matter  of  indulgence  and 
not  of  compulsion, — as  Congress,  he  is  persuaded,  en 
tertain  the  best  disposition  towards  the  army — and  as 
he  apprehends  in  a  short  time  the  two  principal  arti 
cles  of  complaint  will  be  removed — he  will  not  hesi 
tate  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the  army  with  re 
spect  to  furloughs,  &c.  He  cannot  but  hope,  he  ob 
serves,  that  the  notes  will  soon  arrive  and  that  the 
settlement  of  accounts  may  be  completed  in  a  very 
few  days.  In  the  mean  time  he  shall  have  the  honor 
of  laying  the  sentiments  of  the  generals  and  offi 
cers  before  Congress ;  they  are  expressed  in  so  de 
cent,  candid  and  affecting  a  manner,  that  he  is  cer 
tain  every  mark  of  attention  will  be  paid  to  them. 
In  his  letter  to  the  President  of  Congress  enclosing 
the  address  of  the  officers,  and  his  answer,  his  Excel 
lency  observes,  "  These  enclosures  will  explain  the  dis 
tresses  which  resulted  from  the  measures  now  carry- 


REVOLUTIONARY  ANNALS,    1783.  417 

ing  into  execution,  in  consequence  of  the  resolution 
of  the  26th  of  May  ;  but  the  sensibility,  occasioned, 
by  a  parting  scene,  under  such  peculiar  circumstan 
ces,  will  not  admit  of  description  !  While  I  consider 
it  a  tribute  of  justice,  on  this  occasion  to  mention 
the  temperate  and  orderly  behavior  of  the  whole 
army,  and  particularly  the  accommodating  spirit  of 
the  officers,  in  arranging  themselves  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  battalions,  which  will  be  composed  of  the 
three  years'  men  ;  permit  me  to  recall  to  mind,  all 
their  former  sufferings  and  merits,  and  to  recommend 
their  reasonable  request,  to  the  early  and  favorable 
notice  of  Congress." 

19th. — On  the  completion  of  eight  years,  from  the 
memorable  battle  of  Lexington,  the  proclamation  of 
the  Congress  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  was  pub 
lished  at  the  door  of  the  public  building,  followed  by 
three  huzzas,  after  which,  a  prayer  was  offered  to  the 
Almighty  Ruler  of  the  world,  by  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Ganno,  and  an  anthem  was  performed,  by  voices 
and  instruments. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  about  eighty  new  levy  soldiers 
of  the  Pennsylvania  line,  who  had  been  stationed  at 
Lancaster,  in  defiance  of  their  officers,  marched  to 
Philadelphia,  to  seek  a  redress  of  their  supposed 
grievances,  from  the  executive  council  of  the  state. 
They  proceeded  to  the  barracks  in  the  city,  where 
were  quartered  some  other  soldiers,  who  joined  them, 
amounting  to  about  three  hundred  in  the  whole. 
The  day  following,  these  insurgent  troops,  with  fixed 
bayonets,  and  drums  beating,  marched  to  the  state 
house,  the  seat  of  Congress,  and  of  the  supreme  exe 
cutive  council  of  Pennsylvania.  They  placed  senti 
nels  at  every  door,  sent  in  a  written  message  to  the 
President  and  council,  and  threatened  to  let  loose  an 
enraged  soldiery  on  them,  if  they  were  not  gratified 
as  to  their  demands  within  twenty  minutes.  Though 
no  other  insult  was  offered  to  Congress,  this  duresse 
continued  about  three  hours. 
53 


418  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,    1783. 

Congress  resolved  that  the  authority  of  the  United 
States  had  been  grossly  insulted  by  the  armed  sol 
diers — that  their  committee  confer  with  the  execu 
tive  council^  and  that  in  case  it  should  appear  to  the 
committee,   that  there  is  no  satisfactory  ground  for 
expecting  adequate  exertions,  by  the  state  of  Penn 
sylvania  for  supporting  the   dignity    of  the    federal 
government,  the  President  on  the  advice  of  the  com 
mittee,  should  summon  the  members  of  Congress,  to 
meet  on  Thursday  the  26th,  at  Trenton  or  Princeton, 
and  that  the  secretary  at  war,  should  communicate 
to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  the  state  and  disposition 
of  the  mutineers,  that  he  might  take  immediate  mea 
sures  for  suppressing  them.     Congress  now  found  it 
expedient  to  separate  and  reassemble  at  Princeton. 
The  Commander  in  Chief,  on  receiving  information  of 
this  shameful  outrage,  instantly  detached  fifteen  hun 
dred  men,  under  command  of  Major  General  Howe, 
to  quell  the  mutiny  and  punish  the  most  guilty.    Be 
fore  his  arrival,  however,  they  had  dispersed  without 
bloodshed.     A  number  were   brought  to    trial,   and 
two  sentenced  to    suffer  death,   and  four  others  to 
receive  corporeal  punishment.     The  Commander  in 
Chief,  on  this  occasion,  addressed    the  President  of 
Congress,    in    the    feeling   language    which   follows. 
"  While  I  suffer  the  most  poignant  distress  in  observ 
ing  that  a  handful  of  men,  contemptible  in  numbers, 
and    equally  so  in  point  of  service,  if  the   veteran 
troops  from   the  southward  have  not  been  seduced 
by  their  example,   and  who  are  not  worthy  to  be 
called  soldiers,  should  disgrace  themselves  and  their 
country,  as  the  Pennsylvania  mutineers  have  done, 
by  insulting  the  sovereign  authority  of  the  United 
States,  and  that  of  their  own ;  I  feel  an  inexpressible 
satisfaction,  that  even  this  behavior  cannot  stain  the 
name  of  the  American  soldiery.     It  cannot  be  impu- 
table  to,  or  reflect  dishonor  on  the  army  at  large,  but 
on  the  contrary,  it  will,  by  the  striking  contrast  it 
exhibits,  hold  up  to  public  view  the  other  troops  in 


REVOLUTIONAHY    ANNALS,    1783.  419 

the  most  advantageous  point  of  light.  On  taking  all 
the  circumstances  into  consideration,  I  cannot  suffi 
ciently  express  my  surprize  and  indignation,  at  the 
arrogance,  the  folly,  and  the  wickedness  of  the  mu 
tineers  ;  nor  can  I  sufficiently  admire  the  fidelity, 
the  bravery  and  patriotism,  which  must  forever  sig 
nalize  the  unsullied  character  of  the  other  corps  of 
our  army.  For  when  we  consider  that  these  Penn 
sylvania  levies,  who  have  now  mutinied,  are  recruits, 
and  soldiers  of  a  day?  who  have  not  home  the  heat 
and  burden  of  the  war,  and  who  can  have  in  reality 
very  few  hardships  to  complain  of;  and  when  we  at 
the  same  time  recollect  that  those  soldiers,  who 
have  lately  heen  furloughed  from  this  army,  are  the 
veterans,  who  have  patiently  endured  hunger,  naked 
ness,  and  cold  ;  who  have  suffered  and  bled  without 
a  murmur,  and  who,  with  perfect  good  order,  have 
retired  to  their  homes,  without  a  settlement  of  their 
accounts,  or  a  farthing  of  money  in  their  pockets ; 
we  shall  be  as  much  astonished  at  the  virtues  of  the 
latter,  as  we  are  struck  with  horror  and  detestation 
at  the  proceedings  of  the  former ;  and  every  candid 
mind,  without  indulging  ill  grounded  prejudices, 
will  undoubtedly  make  the  proper  discrimination. 

On  the  second  of  November,  1783,  General  Wash 
ington  issued  his  farewell  orders  to  the  armies  of  the 
United  States.  Having  taken  notice  of  the  proclama 
tion  of  Congress,  of  October  18th,  he  said,  "  It  only 
remains  for  the  Commander  in  Chief  to  address  him 
self  once  more,  and  that  for  the  last  time,  to  the 
armies  of  the  United  States,  however  widely  dis 
persed  the  individuals  who  composed  them  may  be, 
and  to  bid  them  an  affectionate,  a  long  farewell.  But 
before  the  Commander  in  Chief  takes  his  final  leave 
of  those  he  holds  most  dear,  he  wishes  to  indulge 
himself  a  few  moments  in  calling  to  mind  a  slight  re 
view  of  the  past.  He  will  then  take  the  liberty  of 
exploring  with  his  military  friends  their  future  pros 
pects, — of  advising  the  general  line  of  conduct,  which 


420  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,    1783. 

in  his  opinion,  ought  to  be  pursued,  and  he  will  con 
clude  the  address  by  expressing  the  obligations  he 
feels  himself  under  for  the  spirited  and  able  assistance 
he  has  experienced  from  them,  in  the  performance 
of  an  arduous  office. 

"  A  contemplation  of  the  complete  attainment,  at 
a  period  earlier  than  could  have  been  expected,  of 
the  object  for  which  we  contended,  against  so  formi 
dable  a  power,  cannot  but  inspire  us  with  as 
tonishment  and  gratitude.  The  disadvantageous  cir 
cumstances  on  our  part,  under  which  the  war  was 
undertaken,  can  never  be  forgotten.  The  signal  in 
terpositions  of  Providence,  in  our  feeble  condition, 
were  such  as  could  scarcely  escape  the  attention  of 
the  most  unobserving ;  while  the  unparalleled  per 
severance  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  through 
almost  every  possible  suffering  and  discouragement, 
for  the  space  of  eight  long  years,  was  little  short  of  a 
standing  miracle."  His  closing  words  are,  "  and  being 
now  to  conclude  these  his  last  public  orders,  to  take 
his  ultimate  leave  in  a  short  time,  of  the  military  char 
acter  and  to  bid  adieu  to  the  armies  he  has  so  long 
had  the  honor  to  command,  he  can  only  again  offer  in 
their  behalf  his  recommendations  to  their  grateful 
country,  and  his  prayers  to  the  God  of  armies.  May 
ample  justice  be  done  them  here  and  may  the  choicest 
of  Heaven's  favors  both  here  and  hereafter  attend 
those,  who,  under  the  divine  auspices  have  secured 
innumerable  blessings  for  others  !  With  these  wishes, 
and  this  benediction,  the  Commander  in  Chief  is  about 
to  retire  from  service.  The  curtain  of  separation 
will  soon  be  drawn,  and  the  military  scene  to  him 
will  be  closed  forever."  The  definitive  treaty  of 
peace  was  signed  on  the  23d  of  September,  and  Con 
gress,  having  ratified  it,  they  issued  a  proclamation 
to  disband  their  army.  The  proclamation  purports, 
"  that  part  of  the  army  which  stood  engaged  to  serve 
during  the  war,  and  by  several  acts  of  Congress  had 
been  furloughed,  should  be  absolutely  discharged 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  421 

after  the  3d  of  November  from  said  service,  and  that 
the  further  service  in  the  field  of  the  officers  derang 
ed,  and  on  furlough,  are  now  dispensed  with,  and 
they  have  permission  to  retire  from  service,  no  more 
to  be  called  to  command,  &c."  In  their  proclama 
tion  Congress  give  their  thanks  to  the  army  for  their 
exertions  in  the  cause  of  America,  and  the  common 
rights  of  mankind.  The  mode  of  disbanding  the 
army  was  well  calculated  to  prevent  any  disorders, 
which  might  have  been  the  consequence  of  dismissing 
a  large  number  of  men  in  a  body.  The  advice  of 
their  beloved  Commander  in  Chief,  and  the  resolves 
of  Congress  to  pay  and  compensate  them  in  such 
manner  as  the  ability  of  the  United  States  would 
permit,  operated  to  keep  them  quiet  and  prevent 
tumult.  Painful  indeed  was  the  parting  scene,  no 
description  can  be  adequate  to  the  tragic  exhibition. 
Both  officers  and  soldiers,  long  unaccustomed  to  the 
affairs  of  private  life,  turned  loose  on  the  world  to 
starve  and  to  become  a  prey  to  vulture  speculators. 
Never  can  that  melancholy  day  be  forgotten  when 
friends,  companions  for  seven  long  years  in  joy,  and  in 
sorrow,  were  torn  asunder,  without  the  hope  of  ever 
meeting  again,  and  with  prospects  of  a  miserable  sub 
sistence  in  future.  Among  other  incidents  peculiarly 
affecting  on  this  occasion,  were  the  lamentations  of 
women  and  children,  earnestly  entreating  that  those 
with  whom  they  had  been  connected  in  the  character 
of  husband  and  father,  would  not  withdraw  from  them 
the  hand  of  kindness  and  protection  and  leave  them 
in  despair;  but  in  several  instances  the  reply  was, 
no,  "  we  took  you  as  companions  during  the  war, 
and  now  we  are  destitute  of  the  means  of  support, 
and  you  must  provide  for  yourselves.'' 

November  25th.— The  British  army  evacuated  New 
York,  and  the  American  troops  under  General  Knox, 
took  possession  of  the  city.  Soon  after,  General  Wash 
ington  and  Governor  Clinton,  with  their  suite,  made 
their  public  entry  into  the  city  on  horseback,  followed 


422  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

by  the  lieutenant  governor  and  the  members  of  coun 
cil,  for  the   temporary  government  of  the  southern 
district,  four  abreast.     General  Knox  and  the  officers 
of  the  army,  eight  abreast ;   citizens  on    horseback, 
eight  abreast — the  speaker  of  the  assembly  and  citi 
zens  on  foot,  eight  abreast.     The  governor  gave  a 
public  dinner,  at  which  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and 
other  general  officers  were  present.     The  arrange 
ments  for  the  whole  business  were  so  well  made  and 
executed,  that  the  most  admirable  tranquillity  suc 
ceeded  through   the  day  and  night.      On  Monday 
the  governor   gave  an  elegant  entertainment  to  the 
French  ambassador,  the  Chevalier  de  la  Luzerne ;  Gen 
eral  Washington,  the  principal  officers  of  New  York 
state,  and  of  the  army,  and  upwards  of  a  hundred 
gentlemen    were    present.       Magnificent   fireworks, 
infinitely  exceeding  every  thing  of  the  kind  before 
seen  in  the  United   States,  were   exhibited   at   the 
Bowling  Green  in    Broadway,    on    the    evening  of 
Tuesday,  in   celebration  of  the  definitive   treaty  of 
peace.    They  commenced  by  a  dove  descending  with 
the  olive  branch,  and  setting  fire  to  a  marron  battery. 
On  Tuesday  noon,  December  4th,  the  principal  officers 
of  the  army  assembled  at  Francis'  tavern,  to  take  a 
final  leave  of  their  much  loved  Commander  in  Chief. 
Soon  after  his  Excellency  entered  the  room.     His 
emotions  were  too  strong  to  be  concealed.     Filling  a 
glass,  he  turned  to  them  and  said,    "  With  a  heart 
full  of  love  and  gratitude,  I  now  take  leave  of  you. 
I  most  devoutly  wish  that  your  latter  days  may  be 
as  prosperous  and  happy  as  your  former  ones   have 
been  glorious  and   honorable.'7      Having  drank,  he 
added.  "  I  cannot  come   to   each  of  you   to  take  my 
leave,  but  shall  be  obliged  to  you,  if  each  of  you  will 
come  and  take  me  by  the   hand."     General   Knox 
being  nearest,  turned  to  him.     Incapable  of  utter 
ance,  Washington,  in  tears,  grasped  his  hand,  em 
braced  and   kissed  him.     In  the  same  affectionate 
manner  he  took  leave  of  each  succeeding  officer.    In 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  423 

every  eye  was  the  tear  of  dignified  sensibility ;  and 
not  a  word  was  articulated  to  interrupt  the  eloquent 
silence,  and  tenderness  of  the  scene.     Leaving  the 
room,  he  passed  through  the  corps  of  light  infantry, 
and  walked  to  White  Hall,  where  a  barge  waited  to 
convey  him  to  Paulus'  Hook.     The  whole  company 
followed  in  mute  and  solemn  procession,  with  deject 
ed   countenances,  testifying  feelings  of  delicious  me 
lancholy  which  no  language   can   describe.     Having 
entered  the  barge   he   turned  to  the  company,  and 
waving  his  hat,  bid  them  a  silent  adieu.     They  paid 
him  the  same  affectionate  compliment,  and  after  the 
barge  had  left  them,  returned   in   the   same  solemn 
manner  to  the  place  where  they  had  assembled.    The 
passions  of  human  nature  were  never  more  tenderly 
agitated  than  in  this  interesting  and  distressful  scene." 
General  Washington  now  repaired  to  Annapolis, 
where  Congress  were  in  session,  to  whom  he  resigned 
his  commission,  which  eight  years  before,  he  had  re 
ceived  from  this  honorable  body.      On    the  23d  of 
December,  the  day  appointed  for  the  very  interesting 
transaction,  a  vast  concourse  of  spectators  attended. 
The  gallery  was  filled  with  a  group  of  ladies,  and  some 
graced  the  floor  of  Congress.     The  governor,  coun 
cil  and  legislature  of  Maryland,  several  general  offi 
cers,   the  consul  general  of  France,  and  numerous 
citizens  of  Annapolis  were  present.     Congress  were 
seated  and  covered,  as  representatives  of  the  sove 
reignty  of  the  union  ;  the  spectators  were  uncovered 
and   standing.      The    general   was  introduced  to  a 
chair  by  the  secretary,  who,  after  a  decent  interval 
ordered  silence.     A  short  pause  ensued,  when  the 
honorable  Thomas  Mifflin,  the   president,  informed 
the  general  that   "  the   United    States  in  Congress 
assembled  were  prepared  to  receive  his  communica 
tions."     On  which  he  rose  with  dignity  and  deliver 
ed  this  address. 

"MR.  PRESIDENT, — The  great  events  on  which 
my    resignation  depended,  having  at  length  taken 


424  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

place,,  I  now  have  the  honor  of  offering  my  sincere 
congratulations  to  Congress,  and  of  presenting  myself 
before  them,  to  surrender  into  their  hands,  the  trust 
committed  to  me,  and  to  claim  the  indulgence  of  re 
tiring  from  the  service  of  my  country. 

"  Happy  in  the  confirmation  of  our  independence 
and  sovereignty,  and  pleased  with  the  opportunity 
afforded  the  United  States,  of  becoming  a  respectable 
nation,  I  resign  with  satisfaction  the  appointment  I 
accepted  with  diffidence  ;  a  diffidence  in  my  abilities, 
to  accomplish  so  arduous  a  task,  which,  however, 
was  superseded,  by  a  confidence  in  the  rectitude  of 
our  cause,  the  support  of  the  supreme  power  of  the 
union,  and  the  patronage  of  Heaven. 

"  The  successful  termination  of  the  war  has  veri 
fied  the  most  sanguine  expectations, — my  gratitude 
for  the  interpositions  of  Providence,  and  the  assis 
tance  I  have  received  from  my  countrymen,  increase 
with  every  review  of  the  momentous  contest. 

"  While  I  respect  my  obligations  to  the  army  in 
general,  T  should  do  injustice  to  my  own  feelings,  not 
to  acknowledge  in  this  place,  the  peculiar  services 
and  distinguished  merits  of  the  persons,  who  have 
been  attached  to  my  person  during  the  war.  It  was 
impossible  the  choice  of  confidential  officers,  to  com 
pose  my  family,  should  have  been  more  fortunate. 
Permit  me,  Sir,  to  recommend  in  particular,  those 
who  have  continued  in  the  service  to  the  present  mo 
ment,  as  worthy  of  the  favorable  notice  and  patronage 
of  Congress. 

"  I  consider  it  as  an  indispensable  duty  to  close 
this  last  solemn  act  of  my  official  life,  by  commend 
ing  the  interests  of  our  dearest  country,  to  the  pro 
tection  of  Almighty  God,  and  those  who  have  the 
superintendence  of  them  to  his  holy  keeping. 

"  Having  now  finished  the  work  assigned  me,  I 
retire  from  the  great  theatre  of  action  ;  and,  bidding 
an  affectionate  farewell  to  this  august  body,  under 
whose  orders  I  have  long  acted,  I  here  offer  my  com- 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,    1783.  425 

mission,  and  take  my  leave  of  all  the  employments  of 
public  life." 

This  address  being  ended,  General  Washington 
advanced  and  delivered  his  commission  into  the 
hands  of  the  President  of  Congress,  who  replied  as 
follows. 

"The  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  re 
ceive  with  emotions  too  affecting  for  utterance,,  the 
solemn  resignation  of  the  authorities  under  which 
you  have  led  their  troops  with  success,  through  a 
perilous  and  doubtful  war. 

"  Called  on  by  your  country  to  defend  its  invaded 
rights,  you  accepted  the  sacred  charge  before  it  had 
formed  alliances,  and  whilst  it  was  without  friends 
or  a  government  to  support  you. 

"You  have  conducted  the  great  military  contest 
with  wisdom  and  fortitude,  invariably  regarding  the 
rights  of  the  civil  power,  through  all  disasters  and 
changes.  You  have  by  the  love  and  confidence  of 
your  fellow  citizens,  enabled  them  to  display  their 
martial  genius,  and  transmit  their  fame  to  posterity  ; 
you  have  persevered  till  these  United  States,  aided 
by  a  magnanimous  king  and  nation,  have  been 
enabled  under  a  just  Providence,  to  close  the  war  in 
safety,  freedom,  and  independency ;  on  which  happy 
event,  we  sincerely  join  you  in  congratulations. 

"  Having  defended  the  standard  of  liberty  in  this 
new  world ;  having  taught  a  lesson  useful  to  those 
who  inflict,  and  to  those  who  feel  oppression,  you 
retire  from  the  great  theatre  of  action,  with  the  bles 
sings  of  your  fellow  citizens  ;  but  the  glory  of  your 
virtues  will  not  terminate  with  your  military  com 
mand,  it  will  continue  to  animate  remotest  ages.  We 
feel  with  you,  our  obligations  to  the  army  in  general, 
and  will  particularly  charge  ourselves,  with  the 
interest  of  those  confidential  officers,  who  have  at 
tended  your  person  to  this  affecting  moment. 

"  We  join  you  in  commending  the  interests  of  our 
dearest  country  to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God, 
54 


426  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,    1783. 

beseeching  him  to  dispose  the  hearts  and  minds  of 
its  citizens  to  improve  the  opportunity  afforded  them 
of  becoming  a  happy  and  respectable  nation ;  and 
for  you  we  address  to  Him  our  earnest  prayers,  that 
a  life  so  beloved,  may  be  fostered  with  all  his  care ; 
that  your  days  may  be  happy,  as  they  have  been 
illustrious,  and  that  he  will  finally  give  you  that  re 
ward,  which  this  world  cannot  give." 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  that  greater  honor  can  be 
conferred  on  any  man,  than  to  receive  the  united  ac 
knowledgments  of  three  millions  of  people,  assembled 
by  their  representatives,  declaring  ta  all  the  world, 
that  he  has  been  the  temporal  savior  of  his  country ! 
His  mind  was  powerful  and  enlightened,  his  devotion 
to  his  country  fervent,  his  sacrifices  great  and  im 
portant,  and  his  triumphs  noble  and  splendid ;  and 
his  memory  will  be  blessed  and  immortal ! 

It  has  been  estimated,  that  the  loss  of  lives  in  the 
various  armies  of  the  United  States,  during  the  war, 
is  not  less  than  seventy  thousand.  The  numbers 
who  died  on  board  of  the  horrid  prison  ships  of  the 
enemy,  cannot  be  calculated.  It  is  however  confi 
dently  asserted,  that  no  less  than  eleven  thousand 
of  our  brave  soldiers,  died  on  board  the  one,  called 
the  Jersey  prison  ship,  only !  This  dreadful  mor 
tality  is  universally  attributed,  to  the  cruel  treatment, 
which  they  received  while  crowded  together  in 
close  confinement. 

The  loss  to  Great  Britain,  is  two  large  armies 
captured  by  the  United  States,  exclusively  of  many 
thousands,  killed  and  taken  in  various  actions,  during 
the  war;  thirteen  colonies  dismembered  from  her 
and  an  increase  of  her  national  debt  in  seven  years, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  millions. 

The  United  States  have  gained  that  indepen 
dence  and  liberty  for  which  they  contended,  and  find 
their  debt  to  be  less  than  forty  five  millions  of  dollars, 
which  is  short  of  ten  millions  of  pounds  sterling ! 
This  long,  protracted  warfare,  waged  in  behalf  of 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,    1783.  427 

American  freedom,  is  now  triumphantly  terminated, 
and  a  sanctuary  sacred  to  civil  and  religious  liberty 
will  be  opened  in  this  western  hemisphere. 

Extract  of  a  Circular  Letter  from  his  Excellency 
George  Washington,  Commander  in  Chief  of  the 
armies  of  the  United  Slates  of  America,  to  the 
Governors  of  the  several  States. 

HEAD  QUARTERS,  Newburgh,  June  18,  1783. 

"  For  my  own  part,  conscious  of  having  acted, 
while  a  servant  of  the  public,  in  the  manner  I  con 
ceived  best  suited  to  promote  the  real  interests  of  my 
country  ;  having  in  consequence  of  my  fixed  belief, 
in  some  measure  pledged  myself  to  the  army,  that 
their  country  would  finally  do  them  complete  and 
ample  justice,  and  not  willing  to  conceal  any  instance 
of  my  official  conduct  from  the  eyes  of  the  world,  I 
have  thought  proper  to  transmit  to  your  Excellency 
the  enclosed  collection  of  papers,  relative  to  the  half 
pay  and  commutation  granted  by  Congress  to  the 
officers  of  the  army. 

"  From  these  communications,  my  decided  senti 
ment  will  be  clearly  comprehended,  together  with\ 
the  conclusive  reasons  which  induced  me  at  an  early 
period,  to  recommend  the  adoption  of  this  measure 
in  the  most  earnest  and  serious  manner.  As  the  pro 
ceedings  of  Congress,  the  army,  and  myself  are  open  to 
all,  and  contain,  in  my  opinion,  sufficient  information 
to  remove  the  prejudice  and  errors  which  may  have 
been  entertained  by  any,  I  think  it  unnecessary  to 
say  any  thing  more,  than  just  to  observe,  that  the 
resolutions  of  Congress,  now  alluded  to,  are  as  un 
doubtedly  and  absolutely  binding  on  the  United 
States,  as  the  most  solemn  acts  of  confederation  or 
legislation. 

"  As  to  the  idea,  which  I  am  informed  has  in  some 
instances  prevailed,  that  the  half  pay  and  commuta 
tion  are  to  be  regarded  merely  in  the  odious  light  of  a 
pension,  it  ought  to  be  exploded  forever ;  That  pro- 


428  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

vision  should  be  viewed  as  it  really  was,  a  reasonable 
compensation  offered  by  Congress,  at  a  time  when 
they  had  nothing  else  to  give,  to  officers  of  the  army 
for  services  then  to  be  performed  :  It  was  the  only 
means  to  prevent  a  total  dereliction  of  the  service  ; 
it  was  a  part  of  their  hire.  I  may  be  allowed  to  say, 
it  was  the  price  of  their  blood  and  of  your  indepen 
dency;  it  is  therefore  more  than  a  common  debt,  it 
is  a  debt  of  honor ;  it  can  never  be  considered  as  a 
pension  or  gratuity,  nor  canceled  till  it  is  fairly  dis 
charged." 

For  the  following  sketch  I  am  indebted  to  the 
Honorable  William  Eustis,  a  highly  respectable  sur 
geon  in  the  hospital  department  during  the  revolu 
tionary  war. 

Colonel  John  Crane,  and  others. 

The  mechanics  of  Boston  and  its  vicinity,  may  take 
a  just  pride  in  having  furnished  from  their  ranks 
some  of  the  bravest  and  most  useful  officers  of  the 
revolutionary  army,  and  among  them,  no  one  more 
brave  or  more  useful  than  John  Crane. 

In  adverting  to  the  sources  whence  they  derived 
their  knowledge  of  discipline,  and  of  service,  our 
first  object  is  to  show  from  facts  and  experience, 
the  utility  and  importance  of  a  well  organized  militia, 
and  to  defend  this  invaluable  institution  from  the  re 
proaches  of  the  ignorant  and  assuming,  who  would 
sap  the  foundation  of  the  national  defence;  and 
secondly,  to  inspire  the  young  mechanics  with  zeal 
in  the  military  profession,  that  like  their  predecessors 
they  may  become  the  able  and  substantial  defenders 
of  their  country. 

Previous  to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  there  was  in 
Boston,  a  company  of  artillery,  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  Adino  Paddock,  by  profession  a  chaise  maker. 
It  was  composed  principally,  if  not  altogether,  of  the 
mechanics  of  Boston,  and  was  distinguished  by  its 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,   1783.  429 

superior  discipline,  by  the  exactness  of  its  manoeuvres, 
and  the  accuracy  of  its  firings.  Paddock  had  tory 
connexions,  adhered  to  the  British,  went  to  England, 
was  consulted  repeatedly  by  the  British  ministry  and 
was  invested  with  the  military  command  of  the  island 
of  Guernsey.  In  this  company  were  raised  Colonel 
John  Crane,  Colonel,  now  General  Ebenezer  Stevens, 
with  others,  all  of  whose  names  are  not  recollected. 
Crane  and  Stevens  were  house  carpenters,  Perkins 
was  a  shoe  maker,  Seward  a  hatter,  Popkins  a  tailor, 
Allen  a  sail  maker,  Carnes  a  rope  maker,  Lillie  a 
cooper,  Johnson  a  painter,  Treat  a  cooper,  Burbeck 

a ,   Hall  a  mason,  D.  Bryant  a  chair  maker, 

Cook  a  butcher,  Thomas  a  cooper,  and  Allen  a  sail 
maker. 

The  greater  part  of  these  with  others  formed  a 
regiment  of  artillery,  not  exceeded  in  discipline, 
valor,  and  usefulness  by  any  regiment  in  service. 
Crane  was  made  a  major  in  1775.  An  uneducated 
man,  he  had  all  the  pride  and  ambition  of  a  soldier. 
He  was  constitutionally  bold  and  daring,  courting 
danger  wherever  it  was  to  be  found. 

In  1775,  when  Boston  was  besieged,  his  station 
was  in  Roxbury.  On  Boston  neck  a  breast  work  was 
constructed,  and  so  soon  as  cannon  could  be  procured, 
they  were  mounted.  Crane  had  the  command,  spent 
a  great  part  of  his  time  there,  and  was  never  more 
delighted  than  when  he  was  permitted  to  fire  on  the 
British  entrenchment.  Our  stock  of  powder  was  then 
small.  It  was  on  this  theatre  that  he  first  displayed 
an  undaunted  courage,  and  a  knowledge  of  the  art  of 
gunnery,  not  often  displayed  by  old  artillery  officers. 
He  repeatedly  dismounted  the  cannon  in  the  em 
brasures  of  the  British  works,  killing  and  wounding 
their  men.  After  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  he 
marched  to  New  York.  Whenever  a  British  ship 
of  war  appeared  in  the  East,  or  North  river,  or  any 
firing  was  heard,  Crane  was  on  horseback  and  gallop 
ed  to  the  scene  of  action.  Being  reproached  on 


430  REVOLUTIONAllY    ANNALS,  1783. 

an  occasion  when  he  exposed  himself  alone,  riding 
through  Greenwich  street,  under  the  constant  broad 
sides  of  a  passing  ship,  he  replied,  "  the  shot  is 
not  cast  which  is  to  kill  me." 

Not  long  after,  a  frigate  run  up  the  East  river  and 
anchored  on  the  Long  Island  side,  near  Carlaer's 
hook.  Four  field  pieces  were  ordered  to  annoy  her. 
They  wrere  only  six  pounders.  Crane,  as  usual,  was 
present  and  pointed  the  pieces.  His  sight  was  re 
markably  true,  his  aim  was  sure.  He  had  from 
habit  and  the  acuteness  of  his  vision,  the  faculty  of 
seeing  a  cannon  ball  on  its  passage  through  the  air. 
A  falling  shot  from  the  ship  he  kenned  in  a  direction 
to  strike,  as  he  thought,  the  lower  part  of  his  body, 
not  having  time  to  change  his  position  in  any  other 
way,  he  whirled  himself  round  on  one  foot,  the  ball 
struck  the  other  foot  while  raised  in  the  air,  carrying 
away  the  great  toe  and  ball  of  the  foot.  Thus  ended 
his  usefulness  for  the  campaign.  He  was  afterwards 
removed  to  New  Jersey,  and  surviving  the  perils  of 
a  partial  jaw  lock,  so  far  recovered  as  to  go  home  on 
furlough.  He  returned  the  next  spring  and  continued 
in  service  till  the  peace.  The  nature  of  this  work 
will  not  allow  us  to  follow  him  through  the  remainder 
of  his  career,  but  we  cannot  refrain  from  stating 
a  closing  anecdote,  illustrative  of  his  independent 
spirit.  He  had  been  among  the  number  of  those  who 
thought  the  army  had  been  neglected  by  the  coun 
try,  and  spake  as  he  felt  indignantly  at  the  treatment 
they  had  received.  A  board  of  general  and  field 
officers,  with  two  hospital  surgeons,  were  appointed  to 
examine  the  wounded  officers  and  soldiers  in  camp 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  to  report  the  rate  of  com 
pensation  to  which  they  were  severally  entitled.  A 
friend  and  brother  officer  who  well  knew  the  nature 
of  his  wound,  waited  on  Colonel  Crane,  represented 
to  him  that  on  his  return  to  private  life,  his  activity 
of  mind  and  body  would  lead  him  to  some  kind  of 
labor,  and  that  having  lost  the  ball  of  his  foot,  the 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  431 

bones  would  come  through  the  cicatrix  and  his  wound 
open  again,  asking  the  favor  of  him  to  walk  over,  and 
suffer  his  foot  to  be  inspected.  Stamping  the  wound 
ed  foot  on  the  floor,  he  replied  indignantly,  "  No, 
Sir,  they  never  shall  say  that  I  eat  their  bread  when 
I  have  done  serving  them.7' 

He  entered  afterwards  on  active  and  laborious 
business,  and  prospered  for  a  number  of  years,  met 
with  adverse  circumstances,  his  wound  broke  out 
again,  he  could  no  longer  labor.  After  many  years 
he  came  to  the  friend  who  had  admonished  him  of 
the  consequences  of  his  wound,  and  said  to  him  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  "  My  friend,  I  am  now  a  hum 
bled  man,  you  may  do  with  me  as  you  please."  He 
was  immediately  placed  on  the  pension  list,  but  did 
not  live  a  year  to  enjoy  his  pension. 

The  important  services  of  Major  Stevens,  who 
commanded  the  artillery  under  General  Gates,  in  the 
campaign  of  1777,  are  well  known. 

There  are  anecdotes  relative  to  many  others  of 
them,  illustrative  of  their  bravery  in  the  field,  and 
of  their  magnanimity  and  general  usefulness  during 
the  war,  which  we  have  not  room  to  particularize. 
One  however,  we  cannot  in  justice  omit.  David 
Bryant,  bred  a  chair  maker  in  Boston,  and  after 
wards  a  lieutenant  in  the  artillery,  was  a  man  of  small 
stature,  but  remarkable  for  the  strictness  of  discipline 
which  he  observed  from  the  earliest  period  of  the 
war.  At  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  he 
was  hard  pressed  by  the  enemy,  and  was  mortally 
wounded.  His  men  hovered  round  him  to  take  care 
of  him.  He  addressed  them  in  the  following  words. 
"  My  lads,  it  is  over  with  me,  leave  me,  but  don't 
leave  the  pieces."  His  words  were  electric,  they 
saved  their  pieces  and  brought  him  off  on  the  trail. 
He  died  in  the  American  camp. 

To  the  above  catalogue  of  worthies,  may  be  added 
Colonel  Paul  Revere,  his  occupation  was  that  of  a 
gold  smith.  He  was  a  very  active  and  influential 


432  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

patriot  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolution,  asso 
ciating  with  a  number  of  mechanics  who  watched  with 
a  vigilant  eye  every  movement  of  the  British,  and 
promptly  communicated  intelligence  to  the  proper 
authority.  In  the  evening  preceding  the  19th  of 
April,  1775,  Colonel  Revere  was  one  of  the  first  who 
discovered  that  a  British  detachment  was  ordered  on 
an  expedition  into  the  country,  and  with  the  utmost 
despatch  repaired  to  Lexington,  spreading  the  alarm 
among  the  militia,  and  giving  notice  to  Messrs.  Han 
cock  and  Adams,  who  were  then  at  the  house  of  the 
clergyman  in  that  town,  that  they  might  escape  the 
impending  danger.  Colonel  Revere  was  afterwards 
appointed  to  command  a  regiment  of  artillery  in  the 
militia,  arid  was  on  the  unfortunate  Penobscot  ex 
pedition  in  the  summer  of  1779.  He  was  through 
life,  esteemed  for  unimpeachable  integrity,  attach 
ment  to  correct  political  principles,  and  as  a  useful 
citizen.  He  died  in  Boston,  in  1818,  in  his  eighty 
fourth  year. 

Dr.  John  Thomas  is  a  respectable  regimental  sur 
geon.  He  possesses  a  remarkable  faculty  of  mimicry, 
and  no  person  in  New  England  can  tell  a  yankee 
story  with  more  genuine  humor.  An  occurrence 
at  head  quarters  is  thus  related  by  a  gentleman  who 
was  present.  General  Washington  seldom  smiles,  I 
never  saw  him  laugh  but  once,  it  was  after  the  pre 
liminaries  of  peace  were  signed,  and  at  a  yankee 
story  told  by  Dr.  Thomas.  The  doctor  being  invit 
ed  to  dine  at  head  quarters,  one  of  the  aids  requested 
the  general's  permission  for  him  to  repeat  the  dia 
logue  between  two  New  England  men  who  had  visit 
ed  the  French  camp.  In  doing  this  he  repeated 
quaint  speeches  and  remarks  in  a  manner  so  inimi 
tably  ludicrous  that  no  one  but  his  Excellency  could 
contain  his  gravity.  At  length  he  added,  "  what, 
said  Jonathan,  do  you  think  Chambeau's  soldiers  call 
a  hat  ?  the  tarnation  fools,  they  call  it  a  chappeau, 
why,  and  be  darn'd  to  them,  can't  they  call  it  a  hat 


REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783.  433 

and  adone  with  it."  The  general  could  no  longer 
refrain,  he  burst  into  a  fit  of  laughter.  There  is  not 
perhaps  another  man  who  can  boast  of  exciting  laugh 
ter  in  General  Washington. 

Captain  Houdin,  commonly  pronounced  Udang,  is 
a  Frenchman  of  singular  manners  and  character,  and 
ludicrous  in  his  personal  appearance,  being  rather 
tall  but  slender ;  his  features  are  sharp  and  irregular, 
complexion  dark,  with  small  jet  black  eyes.  His 
long  hair  is  brought  in  a  braid  to  the  top  of  his  head, 
which  is  constantly  covered  with  powder ;  he  is  never 
seen  without  his  small  sword,  nor  in  conversation 
without  a  display  of  vanity  and  affectation.  He  con 
verses  in  broken  English,  with  rapid  articulation, 
often  perverting  words  from  their  legitimate  mean 
ing.  Dr.  Thomas  and  Udang  have  at  command  an 
inexhaustible  fund  of  merriment  and  humor,  and 
Udang  once  said  to  the  doctor,  "  you  can  take  me 
off  better  than  I  can  myself."  On  a  return  from 
Boston,  in  1780,  he  related  some  incidents  that  oc 
curred  to  him,  which  have  frequently  been  repeated 
to  aid  in  festive  mirth.  Some  wag  knowing  his  van 
ity  and  affectation  of  consequence,  had  employed  a 
negro  wench  to  make  a  familiar  address  to  him  in  some 
public  place.  This  was  a  severe  mortification,  and 
destroyed  all  the  comforts  of  his  visit.  In  answer 
to  an  inquiry  how  he  liked  Boston,  this  vexation  was 
uppermost  in  his  mind.  "  I  like  Boston  very  well 
all  but  one  d — d  madam  nig."  On  being  pressed 
further  he  related  the  particulars  with  all  the  action 
and  irritation  that  the  reality  occasioned.  One  gen 
tleman  said  to  me,  will  you  take  a  walk  to  the 
market — twas  one  very  fine  market — de  poult,  de 
geese,  ebery  ting — one  very  fine  assortment — dere 
it  was  I  hear  somebody  say  behind,  How  do  you  do, 
Captain  Udang,  I  look  round,  one  black  bish  say 
again,  making  reverence,  <  I  hope  you  be  well,  Cap 
tain  Udang?  Who  be  you  speak  to  me  in  de 
market  You  forget,  she  say,  I  was  yqur  sweetheart 
55 


434  REVOLUTIONARY    ANNALS,  1783. 

in  ?77.  Hoi  yo  tongue,  you  d — d  rascal  bish.  You 
speak  to  me  in  de  market,  when  I  am  wid  gentlemen, 
I  cut  off  your  head,  I  will  you  rascal  wench.  I  was 
so  asham,  I  put  de  hat  over  my  eyes  and  run  right 
home  tro  five  tousand  people.  Next  day  some  gen 
tlemen  tell  me,  who  own  the  black  bish  dat  spoke  to 
me  in  de  market,  and  advise  me  to  tell  de  mistress. 
I  go  to  the  house  and  knock,  knock — by  by  door 
open,  How  do  you  do,  Captain  Udang, — de  same 
black  bish  rascal  dat  spoke  to  me  in  de  market — who 
own  you — tell  yo  mistress  one  gentleman  officer  wish 
to  see  her.  Madam,  say  I,  do  you  own  dat  d — d 
madam  nig,  dat  spoke  to  me  in  de  market.  She  say, 
if  you  had  not  been  too  familiar  with  my  negro 
wench,  she  would  not  spoke  to  you  in  de  market,  I 
say  you  be  one  d — d  rascal  yourself,  madam. 

There  is  among  many  good  anecdotes  related  of 
monsieur  one  that  shows  the  simplicity  of  the  man 
and  is  characteristic  of  the  times.  Before  and  at 
the  period  of  the  adoption  of  the  federal  constitution 
great  excitement  existed  in  many  parts  of  the  coun 
try  against  many  of  its  leading  provisions,  much  mis 
chief  was  predicted  and  the  irritated  spirit  of  party 
could  discern  nothing  but  the  most  odious  features 
and  destructive  tendencies.  Houdin,  on  whom  prin 
ciples  and  opinions  set  rather  loosely,  was  a  zealous 
anti- federalist.  After  the  new  government  was 
adopted,  he  was  among  the  first  to  apply  to  the  war 
department  for  an  office.  With  no  very  favorable 
indication  in  his  manner,  General  Knox  inquired,  do 
you  expect  patronage  under  that  system  of  govern 
ment  that  you  have  every  where  assailed  ?  "  Ah, 
general/'  says  monsieur,  I  "tot  it  was  popular,  I  meant 
noting."  This  honest  simplicity  availed  him  with 
the  frank  and  generous  mind  of  Knox,  more  than  a 
hypocritical  canting  affectation  of  patriotism.  He 
received  the  appointment  of  conductor  of  military 
stores,  which  he  held  till  his  death. 


APPENDIX. 


Note  L—See  Page  122. 

General  Burgoyne,  in  his  defence,  after  his  arrival 
in  England,  as  commander  of  the  northern  expedi 
tion,  has  paid  a  just  tribute  of  praise  to  American 
bravery.  Adverting  to  the  action  of  the  19th  of  Sep 
tember,  he  says,  "few  actions  have  been  characterized 
by  more  obstinacy  in  attack  or  defence.  The  Britisli 
bayonet  was  repeatedly  tried  ineffectually.  Eleven 
hundred  British  soldiers  foiled  in  these  trials,  bore 
incessant  fire  from  a  succession  of  fresh  troops,  in 
superior  numbers,  for  above  four  hours  ;  and  after  a 
loss  of  above  a  third  of  their  number,  and  in  one  of 
the  regiments  above  two  thirds,  forced  the  enemy  at 
last.  Of  a  detachment  of  a  captain  and  forty  eight  ar 
tillery  men,  the  captain  and  thirty  six  men  were 
killed  or  wounded.  The  tribute  of  praise  due  to  such 
troops,  will  not  be  wanting  in  this  generous  nation." 
His  observations  respecting  the  action  of  the  7th  of 
October,  are  expressed  in  the  following  energetic  and 
feeling  language.  "  The  losses  in  the  action,  were 
uncommonly  severe.  Sir  Francis  Clark,  my  aid  de 
camp,  had  originally  recommended  himself  to  my 
attention,  by  his  talents  and  diligence.  As  service 
and  intimacy  opened  his  character  more,  he  became 
endeared  to  me  by  every  quality  that  can  create 


436  APPENDIX. 

esteem.  I  lost  in  him  a  useful  assistant,  an  amiable 
companion,  an  attached  friend ;  the  state  was  de 
prived  by  his  death,  of  one  of  the  fairest  promises, 
of  an  able  general. 

"  The  fate  of  Colonel  Ackland,  taken  prisoner,  and 
then  supposed  to  be  mortally  wounded,  was  a  second 
source  of  anxiety.  General  Frazer  was  expiring. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  action,  a  shot  had  passed 
through  my  hat,  and  another  had  torn  my  waistcoat. 
I  should  be  sorry  to  be  thought  at  any  time,  insensi 
ble  to  the  protecting  hand  of  Providence  ;  but  I  ever 
more  particularly  considered  a  soldier's  hair-breadth 
escapes  as  incentives  to  duty,  a  marked  renewal  of 
the  trust  of  being,  for  the  due  purposes  of  a  public 
station ;  and  under  this  reflection,  to  lose  our  forti 
tude,  by  giving  wTay  to  our  affections,  to  be  diverted 
by  any  possible  self-emotion,  from  meeting  a  present 
exigency  with  our  best  faculties,  were  at  once  dis 
honor  and  impiety. 

General  Frazer  died  of  his  wounds  on  the  8th  inst. 
Before  his  death,  he  requested  that  his  body  might 
be  carried,  without  parade,  by  the  officers  of  his  own 
corps  to  the  great  redoubt  and  there  buried.  About 
sun  set  the  corpse  was  carried  up  the  hill,  and  neces* 
sarily  passed  in  view  of  both  armies.  Generals 
Burgoyne,  Phillips,  and  Reidesel  placed  themselves 
in  the  humble  procession.  As  General  Gates  was 
not  made  acquainted  with  the  intended  solemnity,  a 
constant  cannonade  was  kept  up,  by  our  people 
directed  to  the  hill,  where  the  ceremony  was  per 
formed.  From  the  pen  of  General  Burgoyne,  we 
have  the  following  eloquent  delineation  of  the  melan 
choly  scene.  "  The  incessant  cannonade  during  the 
solemnity,  the  steady  attitude,  and  unaltered  voice, 
with  which  the  clergyman  officiated,  though  fre 
quently  covered  with  dust,  which  the  shot  threw  up 
on  all  sides  of  him ;  the  mute,  but  expressive  mix 
ture  of  sensibility  and  indignation  on  every  counte 
nance  5  these  objects  will  remain  to  the  last  of  life 


APPENDIX.  437 

on  the  mind  of  every  man,  who  was  present.  The 
growing  duskiness,  added  to  the  scenery,  and  the 
whole  marked  a  character  of  this  juncture,  that  would 
make  one  of  the  finest  subjects  for  the  pencil  of  a 
master,  that  the  field  ever  exhibited.  To  the  can 
vass  and  to  the  page  of  a  more  important  historian, 
gallant  friend !  I  consign  thy  memory.  There  may 
thy  talents,  thy  manly  virtues,  their  progress  and 
their  period,  find  due  distinction,  and  long  may  they 
survive,  long  after  the  frail  record  of  my  pen  shall 
be  forgotten." 

The  following  appropriate  lines,  are  from  the  eleganf 
pen  of  Mrs.  Morton. 

To  gallant  Gates,  in  war  serenely  brave, 
The  tide  of  fortune  turns  its  refluent  wave, 
Forc'd  by  his  arm,  the  bold  invaders  yield 
The  prize  and  glory  of  the  well  fought  field  j 
Bleeding  and  lost  the  captured  Ackland  lies, 
While  leaden  slumbers  seal  his  Frazer^s  eyes; 
Frazer  !  whose  deeds  unfading  glories  claim, 
Endear'd  by  virtue,  and  adorn'd  by  fame. 


Lady  Ackland. — See  page  132. 

Further  particulars  respecting  the  affecting  story 
of  this  distinguished  lady  have  since  appeared  ;  and 
from  the  writings  of  General  Burgoyne  and  other 
sources,  I  extract  the  following.  She  accompanied 
Major  Ackland  to  Canada  in  1776,  and  was  called 
to  attend  on  him  while  sick  in  a  miserable  hut  at 
Chamblee.  In  the  expedition  to  Ticonderoga  in 
1777,  she  was  positively  enjoined  not  to  expose  her 
self  to  the  risk  and  hazards  which  might  occur  on 
that  occasion ;  but  Major  Ackland,  having  received 
a  wound  in  the  battle  of  Hubberton,  she  crossed 
lake  Champlain,  to  pay  her  attention  to  him.  After 
this  she  followed  his  fortune,  and  shared  his  fatigue. 


438  APPENDIX. 

while  traversing  the  dreary,  woody  country  to  Fort 
Edward.  Here  the  tent  in  which  they  lodged,  took 
lire  hy  night,  from  which  they  escaped  with  the  ut 
most  difficulty.  During  the  action  of  the  19th  of  Sep 
tember,  she  was  exposed  to  great  fatigue,  and  inex 
pressible  anxiety  for  the  fate  of  her  husband,  being 
advanced  in  the  front  of  the  battle.  On  the  7th  of  Oc 
tober,  during  the  heat  of  the  conflict,  Lady  Ackland 
took  refuge  among  the  wounded  and  dying;  her 
husband  commanding  the  grenadiers,  was  in  the  most 
exposed  part  of  the  action,  and  she  in  awful  suspense 
awaiting  his  fate.  The  baroness  Reidesel,  and  the 
wives  of  two  other  field  officers,  were  her  companions 
in  painful  apprehension.  One  of  these  officers  was 
soon  brought  in  dangerously  wounded,  and  the  death 
of  the  other  was  announced.  It  was  not  long  before 
intelligence  was  received  that  the  British  army  was 
defeated,  and  that  Major  Ackland  was  desperately 
wounded  and  taken.  The  next  day  she  proposed 
to  visit  her  husband,  in  the  American  camp.  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne  observes,  "  Though  I  was  ready  to 
believe,  for  I  had  experienced,  that  patience  and 
fortitude  in  a  supreme  degree,  were  to  be  found,  as 
well  as  every  other  virtue,  under  the  most  tender 
forms,  I  was  astonished  at  this  proposal.  After  so 
Jong  an  agitation  of  the  spirits,  exhausted  not  only  for 
want  of  rest,  but,  absolutely  want  of  food,  drenched 
in  rain,  for  twelve  hours  together,  that  a  woman 
should  be  capable  of  delivering  herself  to  the  enemy, 
probably  in  the  night,  and  uncertain  into  what  hands 
she  might  fall,  appeared  an  effort  above  human  na 
ture.  The  assistance  I  was  enabled  to  give,  was  small 
indeed;  I  had  not  even  a  cup  of  wine  to  offer  her, 
but  I  was  told,  she  had  found  from  some  kind  and 
fortunate  hand  a  little  rum  and  dirty  water.  All  I 
could  furnish  to  her,  was  an  open  boat  and  a  few 
lines  written  on  dirty  and  wet  paper  to  General 
Gates,  recommending  her  to  his  protection. — It  is 
due  to  justice,  at  the  close  of  this  adventure,  to  say, 


APPENDIX.  439 

that  she  was  received  and  accommodated  by  General 
Gates,  with  all  the  humanity  and  respect,  that  her 
rank,  her  merits,  and  her  fortunes  deserved. 

u  Let  such  as  are  aflected  by  these  circumstances 
of  alarm,  hardship  and  danger,  recollect  that  the 
subject  of  them  was  a  woman  of  the  most  tender 
and  delicate  frame ;  of  the  gentlest  manners ;  habitu 
ated  to  all  the  soft  elegancies  and  refined  enjoyments 
that  attend  high  birth  and  fortune  ;  and  far  advanc 
ed  in  a  state,  in  which  the  tender  cares,  always  due 
to  the  sex,  become  indispensably  necessary.  Her 
mind  alone  was  formed  for  such  trials." 

The  adventures  of  Lady  Ackland  have  been  a 
theme  for  the  display  of  the  poetic  talents  of  the  ac 
complished  lady  of  Perez  Morton,  Esquire.  It  is 
regretted  that  the  limits  of  this  production  will  not 
admit  of  more  than  the  following  lines,  and  those  on 
the  preceding  page,  from  that  excellent  poem. 

'Twas  now  the  time,  when  twilight's  misty  ray, 

Drops  the  brown  curtain  of  retiring  day, 

The  clouds  of  heaven,  like  midnight  mountains,  lower 

Waft  the  wild  blast,  and  dash  the  drizzly  shower, 

Through  the  wet  path  her  restless  footsteps  roam, 

To  where  the  leader  spread  his  spacious  dome, 

Low  at  his  feet  she  pours  the  desperate  prayer — 

Give  my  lost  husband  1o  my  soothing  care, 

Give  me,  in  yonder  solitary  cave, 

With  duteous  love,  his  burning  wounds  to  lave, 

On  the  warm  pillow,  which  this  breast  supplies, 

Catch  his  faint  breath,  and  close  his  languid  eyes, 

Or  in  his  cause  my  proffer'd  life  resign, 

Mine  were  his  blessings,  and  his  pains  are  mine. 


Note  II.— Page  134. 

The  following  sketch  borrowed  from  the  Memoirs 
of  General  Wilkinson,  is  too  highly  interesting  to  be 
omitted ;  every  reader  of  taste  will  be  gratified  with 
the  perusal,  and  for  myself,  I  owe  to  General  Wilkin 
son  only  an  apology  for  the  liberty  I  have  taken. 


440  APPENDIX. 

Extract  from  the  Baroness  ReidesePs  Narrative. 

"  As  we  had  to  march  still  further,  I  ordered  a 
large  calash  to  be  built,  capable  of  holding  my  three 
children,  myself,  and  two  female  servants ;  in  this 
manner  we  moved  with  the  army  in  the  midst  of  the 
soldiery,  who  were  very  merry,  singing  songs,  and 
panting  for  action.  We  had  to  travel  through  almost 
impassable  woods  and  a  most  picturesque  and  beauti 
ful  country,  which  was  abandoned  by  its  inhabitants, 
who  had  repaired  to  the  standard  of  General  Gates ; 
they  added  much  to  his  strength,  as  they  were  all 
good  marksmen,  and  fitted  by  habit  for  the  species  of 
warfare  the  contending  parties  were  then  engaged 
in — and  the  love  of  their  country  inspired  them  with 
more  than  ordinary  courage.  The  army  had  shortly 
to  encamp ;  I  generally  remained  about  an  hour's 
march  in  the  rear,  where  I  received  daily  visits  from 
my  husband ;  the  army  was  frequently  engaged  in 
small  affairs,  but  nothing  of  importance  took  place  ; 
and  as  the  season  was  getting  cold,  Major  Williams  of 
the  artillery  proposed  to  have  a  house  built  for  me 
with  a  chimney,  observing  that  it  would  not  cost  more 
than  five  or  six  guineas,  and  that  the  frequent  change 
of  quarters  was  very  inconvenient  to  me  ;  it  was 
accordingly  built,  and  was  called  the  Block  house, 
from  its  square  form  and  the  resemblance  it  bore  to 
those  buildings. 

"  On  the  19th  of  September,  an  affair  happened, 
which  though  it  turned  out  to  our  advantage,  yet 
obliged  us  to  halt  at  a  place  called  Freeman's  farm ; 
I  was  an  eye  witness  to  the  whole  affair,  and  as  my 
husband  was  engaged  in  it,  I  was  full  of  anxiety, 
and  trembled  at  every  shot  I  heard  ;  I  saw  a  great 
number  of  the  wounded,  and  what  added  to  the  dis 
tress  of  the  scene,  three  of  them  were  brought  into 
the  house  in  which  1  took  shelter ;  one  was  a  Major 
Harnage  of  the  sixty  second  British  regiment,  the 
husband  of  a  lady  of  my  acquaintance,  another  was 
a  lieutenant,  married  to  a  lady  with  whom  I  had  the 


APPENDIX.  441 

honor  to  be  on  terms  of  intimacy,  and  the  third  was 
an  officer  of  the  name  of  Young. 

"  In  a  short  time  afterwards  I  heard  groans  pro 
ceeding  from  a  room  near  mine,  and  knew  they 
must  have  Jbeen  occasioned  by  the  suiferings  of  the 
last  mentioned  officer,  who  lay  writhing  with  his 
wounds. 

"  His  mournful  situation  interested  me  much,  and 
the  more  so,  because  the  recollection  of  many  polite 
attentions,  received  from  a  family  of  that  name  during 
my  visit  to  England,  was  still  forcibly  impressed  on 
my  mind.  I  sent  to  him  and  begged  him  to  accept 
my  best  services,  and  afterwards  furnished  him  with 
food  and  refreshments ;  he  expressed  a  great  desire 
to  see  me,  politely  calling  me  his  benefactress.  I 
accordingly  visited  him,  and  found  him  lying  on  a  little 
straw,  as  he  had  lost  his  equipage.  He  was  a  young 
man  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  really 
the  beloved  nephew  of  the  Mr.  Young,  the  head  of 
the  family  I  have  mentioned,  and  the  only  son  of 
his  parents.  This  last  circumstance  was  what  he 
lamented  most,'  as  to  his  pain  he  thought  lightly  of  it. 
He  had  lost  much  blood,  and  it  was  thought  necessary 
to  amputate  the  leg,  but  this  he  would  not  consent  to, 
and  of  course  a  mortification  took  place.  I  sent  him 
cushions  and  coverings,  and  my  female  friends  sent 
him  a  mattress.  I  redoubled  my  attention  to  him, 
and  visited  him  every  day,  for  which  I  received  a 
thousand  wishes  for  my  happiness.  At  last  his  limb 
was  amputated,  but  it  was  too  late,  and  he  died  the 
following  day.  As  he  lay  in  the  next  room  to  me, 
and  the  partition  was  very  thin,  I  distinctly  heard 
his  last  sigh,  when  his  immortal  part  quitted  its  frail 
tenement,  and  I  trust,  winged  its  way  to  the  mansions 
of  eternal  bliss. 

"  But  severer  trials  awaited  us,  and  on  the  7th  of 
October,  our  misfortunes  began  ;  I  was  at  breakfast 
with  my  husband,  and  heard  that  something  was  in 
tended.     On  the  same  day  I  expected  Generals  Bur- 
56 


442  APPENDIX. 

goyne,  Phillips  and  Frazer  to  dine  with  us.     I  saw  a 
great  movement  among  the  troops  ;  my  husband  told 
me  it  was  merely  a  reconnoisance,  which  gave  me 
no  concern,  as  it  often   happened.     I  walked  out  of 
the    house    and  met   several   Indians   in    their  war 
dresses,  with  guns  in  their  hands.     When  I  asked 
them  where   they  were  going,  they  cried  out,  war ! 
war  !   meaning  that  they  were  going  to  battle.     This 
filled  me  with  apprehension,  and  I  had  scarcely  got 
home  before  I  heard  reports  of  cannon  and  musketry 
which  grew  louder  by  degrees,  till  at  last  the  noise 
became  excessive.     About  four  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  instead  of  the  guests  whom  I   expected,  Gen 
eral  Frazer  was  brought  on  a  litter  mortally  wound 
ed.     The  table,  which  was  already  set,  was  instantly 
removed  and  a  bed  placed  in  its  stead  for  the  wound 
ed  general.     I  sat  trembling  in  a  corner  ;  the  noise 
grew  louder,  and  the  alarm  increased ;  the   thought 
that   my   husband   might   perhaps    be   brought   in, 
wounded  in  the  same  manner,  was  terrible  to  me, 
and  distressed  me  exceedingly.     General  Frazer  said 
to  the  surgeon,   "  tell  me  if  my  wound  is  mortal, 
do  not  flatter  me."     The  ball  had  passed  through 
his  body,   and  unhappily  for  the    general,   he  had 
eaten  a  very  hearty  breakfast,  by  which  the  stomach 
was    distended,  and  the  ball,   as  the    surgeon  said, 
had  passed  through  it.     I  heard   him  often   exclaim 
with  a  sigh,  "  Oh,  fatal  ambition !  Poor  General 
Burgoyne !  Oh,   my  poor  wife !"     He  was  asked 
if  he  had  any  request  to  make,   to    which    he   re 
plied,  that  "  If  General  Burgoyne  would  permit 
it,  he  should  like  to  be  buried  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  on    the  top  of  a  mountain,  in  a  redoubt 
which  had  been  built  there."     I  did  not  know  which 
way  to  turn,  all  the  other  rooms  were  full  of  sick. 
Towards  evening  I  saw  my  husband  coming,  then  I 
forgot  all  my  sorrows,  and  thanked  God  that   he  was 
spared  to  me.     He  ate  in  great  haste  with  me  and 
his  aid  de  camp,  behind  the  house.     We  had  been 


APPENDIX.  443 

told  that  we  had  the  advantage  over  the  enemy,  but 
the  sorrowful  faces  I  beheld  told  a  different  tale, 
and  before  my  husband  went  away  he  took  me  aside, 
and  said  every  thing  was  going  very  badly,  that 
I  must  keep  myself  in  readiness  to  leave  the  place, 
but  not  to  mention  it  to  any  one.  I  made  the  pre 
tence  that  I  would  move  the  next  morning  into  my 
new  house  and  had  every  thing  packed  up  ready. 

"  Lady  Ackland  had  a  tent  not  far  from  our  house, 
in  this  she  slept,  and  the  rest  of  the  day  she  was  in 
the  camp.  All  of  a  sudden  a  man  came  to  tell  her 
that  her  husband  was  mortally  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner;  on  hearing  this  she  became  very  miserable, 
we  comforted  her  by  telling  her  that  the  wound 
was  only  slight,  and  at  the  same  time  advised  her  to 
go  over  to  her  husband,  to  do  which,  she  would 
certainly  obtain  permission,  and  then  she  would  at 
tend  him  herself;  she  was  a  charming  woman,  and 
very  fond  of  him.  I  spent  much  of  the  night  in 
comforting  her,  and  then  went  again  to  my  children, 
whom  I  had  put  to  bed.  I  could  not  go  to  sleep,  as 
I  had  General  Frazer  and  all  the  other  wounded 
gentlemen  in  my  room,  and  I  was  sadly  afraid  my 
children  would  wake,  and  by  their  crying,  disturb 
the  dying  man  in  his  last  moments,  who  often  ad 
dressed  me  and  apologized  "for  the  trouble  he  gave 
me"  About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  I  was 
told  that  he  could  not  hold  out  much  longer  ;  I  had 
desired  to  be  informed  of  the  near  approach  of  this 
sad  crisis,  and  I  then  wrapped  up  my  children  in  their 
clothes,  and  went  with  them  into  the  room  below. 
About  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  died.  After 
he  was  laid  out  and  his  corpse  wrapped  up  in  a  sheet, 
we  came  again  into  the  room,  and  had  this  sorrowful 
sight  before  us  the  whole  day,  and  to  add  to  the 
melancholy  scene,  almost  every  moment  some  officer 
of  my  acquaintance  was  brought  in  wounded.  The 
cannonade  commenced  again  ;  a  retreat  was  spoken 
of,  but  not  the  smallest  motion  was  made  towards  it. 


444  APPENDIX. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  I  saw  the  house 
which  had  just  been  built  for  me  in  flames,  and  the 
enemy  was  now  not  far  off.  We  knew  that  General 
Burgoyne  would  not  refuse  the  last  request  of  Gen* 
eral  Frazer,  though  by  his  acceding  to  it,  an  un 
necessary  delay  was  occasioned,  by  which  the  incon 
venience  of  the  army  was  much  increased.  At  six 
o'clock  the  corpse  was  brought  out,  and  we  saw  all 
the  generals  attend  it  to  the  mountain ;  the  chap 
lain,  Mr.  Brudenell,  performed  the  funeral  service, 
rendered  unusually  solemn  and  awful  from  its  being 
accompanied  by  constant  peals  from  the  enemy's 
artillery.  Many  cannon  balls  flew  close  by  me,  but 
I  had  my  eyes  directed  towards  the  mountain,* 
where  my  husband  was  standing,  amidst  the  fire  of 
the  enemy,  and  of  course,  I  could  not  think  of  my 
own  danger. 

"General  Gates  afterwards  said,  that  if  he  had 
known  it  had  been  a  funeral  he  would  not  have  per 
mitted  it  to  be  fired  on. 

"  So  soon  as  the  funeral  service  was  finished,  arid 
the  grave  of  General  Frazer  was  closed,  an  order 
was  issued  that  the  army  should  retreat.  My  calash 
was  prepared,  but  I  would  not  consent  to  go  before 
the  troops.  Major  Harnage,  though  suffering  from 
his  wounds,  crept  from  his  bed,  as  he  did  not  wish 
to  remain  in  the  hospital,  which  was  left  with  a  flag 
of  truce.  When '  General  Reidesel  rsaw  me  in  the 
midst  of  danger,  he  ordered  my  women  and  children 
to  be  brought  into  the  calash,  and  intimated  to  me  to 
depart  without  delay.  I  still  prayed  to  remain,  but 
my  husband,  knowing  my  weak  side,  said,  "well 
then,  your  children  must  go,  that  at  least  they  may 
be  safe  from  danger."  I  then  agreed  to  enter  the 
calash  with  them,  and  we  set  off  at  eight  o'clock. 

"The  retreat  was  ordered  to  be  conducted  with 
the  greatest  silence,  many  fires  were  lighted,  and 

*The  height  occupied  by  Burgoyne  on  the  18th,  which  ran  parallel 
with  the  river  til]  it  approached  General  Gates'  camp. 


APPENDIX.  445 

several  tents  left  standing ;  we  travelled  continually 
during  the  night.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  we 
halted,  which  excited  the  surprize  of  all ;  General 
Burgoyne  had  the  cannon  ranged  and  counted;  this 
delay  seemed  to  displease  every  body,  for  if  we  could 
only  have  made  another  good  march,  we  should  have 
been  in  safety.  My  husband,  quite  exhausted  witli 
fatigue,  came  into  my  calash,  and  slept  for  three  hours. 
During  that  time,  Captain  Willoe  brought  me  a  bag 
full  of  bank  notes,  and  Captain  Grismar  his  elegant 
watch,  a  ring,  and  a  purse  full  of  money,  which  they 
requested  me  to  take  care  of,  and  which  I  promised 
to  do  to  the  utmost  of  my  power.  We  again  march 
ed,  but  had  scarcely  proceeded  an  hour  before  we 
halted,  as  the  enemy  was  in  sight ;  it  proved  to  be 
only  a  reconnoitering  party  of  two  hundred  men,'  who 
might  easily  have  been  made  prisoners,  if  General 
Burgoyne  had  given  proper  orders  on  the  occasion. 

66  The  Indians  had  now  lost  their  courage,  and 
were  departing  for  their  homes ;  these  people  ap 
peared  to  droop  much  under  adversity,  and  especially 
when  they  had  no  prospect  of  plunder.  One  of  my 
waiting  women  was  in  a  state  of  despair,  which  ap 
proached  to  madness  ;  she  cursed  and  tore  her  hair, 
and  when  I  attempted  to  reason  with  her,  and  to 
pacify  her,  she  asked  me  if  I  was  not  grieved  at  our 
situation,  and  on  my  saying,  I  was,  she  tore  her  cap 
off  her  head  and  let  her  hair  drop  over  her  face,  say 
ing  to  me,  "  it  is  very  easy  for  you  to  be  composed 
and  talk,  you  have  your  husband  with  you,  I  have 
none,  and  what  remains  to  me  but  the  prospect  of 
perishing  or  losing  all  I  have."  I  again  bade  her 
take  comfort,  and  assured  her  I  would  make  good 
whatever  she  might  happen  to  lose,  and  I  made  the 
same  promise  to  Ellen,  my  other  waiting  woman, 
who,  though  filled  with  apprehensions,  made  no  com 
plaints. 

"  About  evening  we  arrived  at  Saratoga ;  my 
dress  was  wet  through  and  through  with  rain,  and  in 


446  APPENDIX. 

this  state  I  had  to  remain  the  whole  night,  having  no 
place  to  change  it ;  I  however  got  close  to  a  large 
fire,  and  at  last  lay  down  on  some  straw.  At  this 
moment  General  Phillips  came  up  to  me,  and  I  asked 
him  why  he  had  not  continued  our  retreat,  as  my 
husband  had  promised  to  cover  it  and  bring  the  army 
through?  "Poor,  dear  woman,"  said  he,  "  I  wonder 
how,  drenched  as  you  are,  you  have  the  courage  still 
to  persevere  and  venture  farther  in  this  kind  of 
weather;  I  wish,"  continued  he,  "you  was  our  com 
manding  general,  General  Burgoyne  is  tired  and 
means  to  halt  here  to  night  and  give  us  our  supper. 
"  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  at  ten  o' clock,  Gen 
eral  Burgoyne  ordered  the  retreat  to  be  continued, 
and  caused  the  handsome  houses  and  mills  of  General 
Schuyler  to  be  burnt ;  we  marched,  however,  but 
a  short  distance,  and  then  halted.  The  greatest 
misery  at  this  time  prevailed  in  the  army,  and  more 
than  thirty  oflicers  came  to  me,  for  whom  tea  and  cof 
fee  was  prepared,  and  with  whom  I  shared  all  my 
provisions,  with  which  my  calash  was  in  general  well 
supplied  ;  for  I  had  a  cook  who  was  an  excellent  cate 
rer,  and  who  often  in  the  night  crossed  small  rivers 
and  foraged  on  the  inhabitants,  bringing  in  with  him, 
sheep,  small  pigs,  and  poultry,  for  which  he  very  often 
forgot  to  pay,  though  he  received  good  pay  from  me 
so  long  as  I  had  any,  and  was  ultimately  handsomely 
rewarded.  Our  provisions  now  failed  us  for  want  of 

?  roper  conduct  in  the  commissary's  department,  and 
began  to  despair.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  we  again  heard  a  firing  of  cannon  and  small 
arms ;  instantly  all  was  alarm,  and  every  thing  in 
motion.  My  husband  told  me  to  go  to  a  house  not 
far  off;  I  immediately  seated  myself  in  my  calash, 
with  my  children,  arid  drove  off;  but  scarcely  had 
we  reached  it  before  I  discovered  five  or  six  armed 
men  on  the  other  side  of  the  Hudson  ;  instinctively  I 
threw  my  children  down  in  the  calash,  and  then  con 
cealed  myself  with  them  ;  at  this  moment  the  fellows 


APPENDIX.  447 

fired  and  wounded  an  already  wounded  English  sol 
dier,  who  was  behind  me  ;  poor  fellow,  I  pitied  him 
exceedingly,  but  at  this  moment  had  no  means  or 
power  to  relieve  him.  A  terrible  cannonade  was 
commenced  by  the  enemy,  which  was  directed  against 
the  house  in  which  I  sought  to  obtain  shelter  for 
myself  and  children,  under  the  mistaken  idea  that 
all  the  generals  were  in  it.  Alas !  it  contained  none 
but  wounded  and  women ;  we  were  at  last  obliged  to 
resort  to  the  cellar  for  refuge,  and  in  one  corner  of 
this  I  remained  the  whole  day,  my  children  sleeping 
on  the  earth  with  their  heads  in  my  lap  ;  and  in  the 
same  situation  I  passed  a  sleepless  night. — Eleven  can 
non  balls  passed  through  the  house,  and  we  could  dis 
tinctly  hear  them  roll  away.  One  poor  soldier  who 
was  lying  on  a  table,  for  the  purpose  of  having  his 
leg  amputated,  was  struck  by  a  shot,  which  carried 
away  his  other ;  his  comrades  had  left  him,  and  when 
we  went  to  his  assistance  we  found  him  in  a  corner  of 
the  room,  into  which  he  had  crept,  more  dead  than 
alive,  scarcely  breathing.  My  reflections  on  the 
danger  to  which  my  husband  was  exposed  now  ago 
nized  me  exceedingly,  and  the  thoughts  of  my  chil 
dren  and  the  necessity  of  struggling  for  their  pre 
servation  alone  sustained  me. 

"The  ladies  of  the  army  who  were  with  me,  were 
Mrs.  Harnage,  a  Mrs.  Kennels,  the  widow  of  a  lieu 
tenant  who  was  killed,  and  the  lady  of  the  commis 
sary.  Major  Harnage,  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Kennels^ 
made  a  little  room  in  a  corner  with  curtains  to  it, 
and  wished  to  do  the  same  for  me,  but  I  preferred 
being  near  the  door,  in  case  of  fire.  Not  far  off  my 
women  slept,  and  opposite  to  us  three  English  offi 
cers,  who,  though  wounded,  were  determined  not  to 
be  left  behind ;  one  of  them  was  Captain  Green,  an 
aid  de  camp  to  Major  General  Phillips,  a  very  valu 
able  officer  and  most  agreeable  man.  They  each 
made  me  a  most  sacred  promise  not  to  leave  me  be 
hind,  and  in  case  of  sudden  retreat,  that  thev  would 


448  APPENDIX. 

each  of  them  take  one  of  my  children  on  his  horse, 
and  for  myself,  one  of  my  husband's  was  in  constant 
readiness. 

"  Our  cook,  whom  I  have  before  mentioned,  pro 
cured  us  our  meals,  but  we  were  in  want  of  water, 
and  I  was  often  obliged  to  drink  wine  and  to  give  it 
to  my  children.  It  was  the  only  thing  my  husband 
took,  which  made  our  faithful  Hunter,  Rockel,  ex 
press  one  day  his  apprehensions,  that,  "  the  general 
was  weary  of  his  life,  or  fearful  of  being  taken,  as  he 
drank  so  much  wine."  The  constant  danger  which 
my  husband  was  in,  kept  me  in  a  state  of  wretched 
ness,  and  I  asked  myself,  if  it  was  possible,  I  should 
be  the  only  happy  one,  and  have  my  husband  spared 
to  me  unhurt,  exposed  as  he  was  to  so  many  perils. 
He  never  entered  his  tent,  but  laid  down  whole 
nights  by  the  watch  fires ;  this  alone  was  enough  to 
have  killed  him,  the  cold  was  so  intense. 

"  The  want  of  water  distressed  us  much  ;  at  length 
we  found  a  soldier's  wife  who  had  courage  enough  to 
fetch  us  some  from  the  river,  an  office  nobody  else 
would  undertake,  as  the  Americans  shot  at  every 
person  who  approached  it,  but  out  of  respect  for  her 
sex  they  never  molested  her. 

"  I  now  occupied  myself  through  the  day  in  attend 
ing  the  wounded;  I  made  them  tea  and  coffee,  and 
often  shared  my  dinner  with  them,  for  which  they  offer 
ed  me  a  thousand  expressions  of  gratitude.  One  day 
a  Canadian  officer  came  to  our  cellar,  who  had  scarcely 
the  power  of  holding  himself  upright,  and  we  con 
cluded  he  was  dying  for  want  of  nourishment ;  I  was 
happy  in  offering  him  my  dinner,  which  strength 
ened  him  and  procured  me  his  friendship.  I  now 
undertook  the  care  of  Major  Bloomfield,  another  aid 
de  camp  of  General  Phillips,  he  had  received  a  mus 
ket  ball  through  both  cheeks,  which  in  its  course  had 
knocked  out  several  of  his  teeth,  and  cut  his  tongue, 
he  could  hold  nothing  in  his  mouth,  the  matter  which 
ran  from  his  wound  almost  choked  him,  and  he  was 


APPENDIX.  449 

not  able  to  take  any  nourishment  except  a  little  soup, 
or  something  liquid  ;  we  had  some  Rhenish  wine, 
and  in  the  hope  that  the  acidity  of  it  would  cleanse 
his  wound,  I  gave  him  a  bottle  of  it ;  he  took  a  little 
now  and  then,  and  with  such  effect,  that  his  cure 
soon  followed  ;  thus  I  added  another  to  my  stock 
of  friends,  and  derived  a  satisfaction  which  in  the 
midst  of  sufferings,  served  to  tranquillize  me  and 
diminish  their  acuteness. 

"  One  day,  General  Phillips  accompanied  my  hus 
band,  at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  on  a  visit  to  us,  who, 
after  having  witnessed  our  situation,  said  to  him,  "  I 
would  not  for  ten  thousand  guineas  come  again  to 
this  place,  my  heart  is  almost  broken." 

"  In  this  horrid  situation  we  remained  six  days  j 
a  cessation  of  hostilities  was  now  spoken  of,  and 
eventually  took  place  :  a  convention  was  afterwards 
agreed  on  ;  but  one  day  a  message  was  sent  to  my 
husband  who  had  visited  me  and  was  reposing  in  my 
bed,  to  attend  a  council  of  war,  where  it  was  pro 
posed  to  break  the  convention,  but  to  my  great  joy, 
the  majority  were  for  adhering  to  it;  on  the  16th, 
however,  my  husband  had  to  repair  to  his  post,  and 
I  to  my  cellar ;  this  day  fresh  beef  was  served  out 
to  the  officers,  who  till  now  had  only  had  salt  provi 
sions,  which  was  very  bad  for  their  wounds.  The 
good  woman  who  brought  us  water,  made  us  an  ex 
cellent  soup  of  the  meat,  but  I  had  lost  my  appetite, 
and  took  nothing  but  crusts  of  bread  dipped  in  wine. 
The  wounded  officers,  my  unfortunate  companions, 
cut  off  the  best  bit  and  presented  it  to  me  on  a  plate. 
I  declined  eating  any  thing,  but  they  contended  that 
it  was  necessary  for  me  to  take  nourishment,  and 
declared  they  would  not  touch  a  morsel  till  I  afforded 
them  the  pleasure  of  seeing  me  partake  ;  I  could  no 
longer  withstand  their  pressing  invitations,  accom 
panied  as  they  were  by  assurances  of  the  happiness 
they  had  in  offering  me  the  first  good  thing  they  had 
in  their  power,  arid  I  partook  of  a  repast  rendered 
57 


450  APPENDIX. 

palatable  by  the  kindness  and  good  will  of  my  fellow 
sufferers,  forgetting  for  the  moment  the  misery  of 
our  apartment,  and  the  absence  of  almost  every 
comfort. 

"  On  the  17th  of  October,  the  convention  was  com 
pleted.  General  Burgoyne,  and  the  other  generals 
waited  on  the  American  General  Gates;  the  troops 
laid  down  their  arms,  and  gave  themselves  up  prisoners 
of  war !  And  now  the  good  woman  who  had  sup 
plied  us  with  water  at  the  hazard  of  her  life,  received 
the  reward  of  her  services  ;  each  of  us  threw  a  handful 
of  money  into  her  apron  and  she  got  altogether  about 
twenty  guineas.  At  such  a  moment  as  this,  how  sus 
ceptible  is  the  heart  of  feelings  of  gratitude  ! 

"  My  husband  sent  a  message  to  me  to  come  over 
to  him  with  my  children.     I  seated  myself  once  more 
in  my  dear  calash,  and  then  rode  through  the  Ame 
rican   camp.     As  I  passed  on,  I  observed,  and  this 
was  a  great  consolation  to  me,  that  no  one  eyed  me 
with  looks  of  resentment,  but  that  they  all  greeted 
us  and  even  showed  compassion  in  their  countenances 
at  the  sight  of  a  woman  with  small  children.     I  was, 
I  confess,  afraid  to  go  over  to  the  enemy,  as  it  was 
quite  a  new  situation  to  me.     When  I  drew  near  the 
tents,  a  handsome  man  approached  and  met  me,  took 
my  children  from  the  calash,  and  hugged  and  kiss 
ed  them,  which  affected  me  almost  to  tears.     "  You 
tremble,"  said  he,  addressing  himself  to  me,  "  be  not 
afraid."     "  No,"  I  answered,   "  you  seem  so  kind 
and  tender  to  my  children,  it  inspires  me  with  cou 
rage."     He  now  led  me  to  the  tent  of  General  Gates, 
where  I  found  Generals  Burgoyne  and  Phillips,  who 
were   on  a  friendly  footing  with  the  former.     Bur 
goyne  said  to  me,  "  Never  mind,  your  sorrows  have 
now  an  end."     I  answered  him,  "  that  I  should  be 
reprehensible  to  have  any  cares,  as  he  had  none ;" 
and  I  was  pleased  to  see  him  on  such  a  friendly  foot 
ing  with  General  Gates.     All  the  generals  remained 
to  dine  with  General  Gates. 


APPENDIX.  451, 

"  The  same  gentleman  who  received  me  so  kindly, 
now  came  and  said  to  me,  "  You  will  be  very  much 
embarrassed  to  eat  with  all  these  gentlemen ;  come, 
ivith  your  children  to  my  tent.,  where  I  will  prepare 
for  you  a  frugal  dinner  and  give  it  with  a  free 
will"  I  said,  "  You  are  certainly  a  husband  and 
a  father,  you  have  shown  me  so  much  kindness" 
I  now  found  that  he  was  General  Schuyler.  He 
treated  me  with  excellent  smoked  tongue,  beef  steaks, 
potatoes  and  good  bread  and  butter !  Never  could  I 
have  wished  to  eat  a  better  dinner  ;  I  was  content : 
I  saw  all  around  me  were  so  likewise  ;  and  what  was 
better  than  all,  by  husband  was  out  of  danger.  When 
we  had  dined,  he  told  me  his  residence  was  at  Albany, 
and  that  General  Burgoyne  intended  to  honor  him  as 
his  guest,  and  invited  myself  and  children  to  do  so 
likewise.  I  asked  my  husband  how  I  should  act ;  he 
told  me  to  accept  the  invitation.  As  it  was  two  days' 
journey  there,  he  advised  me  to  go  to  a  place  which 
was  about  three  hours  ride  distant.  General  Schuyler 
had  the  politeness  to  send  with  me  a  French  officer, 
a  very  agreeable  man,  who  commanded  the  recon- 
noitering  party,  of  which  I  have  before  spoken  ;  and 
when  he  had  escorted  me  to  the  house  where  I  was 
to  remain,  he  turned  back  again.  In  the  house,  I 
found  a  French  surgeon,  who  had  under  his  care  a 
Brunswick  officer,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
died  some  days  afterwards.  The  Frenchman  boasted 
much  of  the  care  he  took  of  his  patient,  and  perhaps 
was  skilful  enough  as  a  surgeon,  but  otherwise  was  a 
mere  simpleton ;  he  was  rejoiced  when  he  found  out 
I  could  speak  his  language,  and  began  to  address  many 
empty  and  impertinent  speeches  to  me.  He  said, 
among  other  things,  he  could  not  believe  that  I  was 
a  general's  wife,  as  he  was  certain  a  woman  of  such 
rank  would  not  follow  her  husband ;  he  wished  me 
to  remain  with  him,  as  he  said  it  was  better  to  be 
with  the  conquerors  than  the  conquered.  I  was 
shocked  at  his  impudence,  but  dared  not  show  the 


452  APPENDIX. 

contempt  and  disdain  I  felt  for  him,  because  it  would 
deprive  me  of  a  place  of  safety.  Towards  evening 
he  begged  me  to  take  a  part  of  his  chamber.  I  told 
him  I  was  determined  to  remain  in  the  room  with 
the  wounded  officer ;  whereon  he  attempted  to  pay 
me  some  stupid  compliments.  M  this  moment  the 
door  opened,  and  my  husband  with  his  aid  de  camp 
entered.  I  then  said,  "  Here,  Sir,  is  my  husband," 
and  at  the  same  time  eyed  him  with  scorn,  whereon 
he  retired  abashed  ;  nevertheless  he  was  so  polite  as 
to  offer  his  chamber  to  us. 

66  Some  days  after  this  we  arrived  at  Albany,  where 
we  so  often  wished  ourselves ;  but  we  did  not  enter 
it  as  we  expected  we  should — victors  !  We  were  re 
ceived  by  the  good  General  Schuyler,  his  wife,  and 
daughters,  not  as  enemies,  but  kind  friends,  and 
they  treated  us  with  the  most  marked  attention  and 
politeness,  as  they  did  General  Burgoyne,  who  had 
caused  General  Schuyler^s  beautifully  finished  house 
to  be  burnt ;  in  fact,  they  behaved  like  persons  of 
exalted  minds,  who  determined  to  bury  all  recollec 
tion  of  their  own  injuries  in  the  contemplation  of  our 
misfortunes.  General  Burgoyne  was  struck  with 
General  Schuyler's  generosity,  and  said  to  him, 
((  You  show  me  great  kindness,  though  I  have  done 
you  much  injury."  "  That  was  the  fate  of  war,"  re 
plied  the  brave  man,  "  let  us  say  no  more  about  it." 


Note  III.— Page  150. 

Mr.  BushnelFs  squadron  of  kegs  committed  to  the 
Delaware  in  1777,  produced  an  unprecedented  alarm 
among  the  British  fleet  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  sin 
gular  catastrophe  was,  by  the  Honorable  Francis  Hop- 
kinson,  made  a  subject  of  the  following  song,  which 


APPENDIX.  453 

has  been,  and  ever  will  be,  celebrated  for  the  bril 
liancy  of  its  wit  and  humor. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  KEGS:— A  Song. 

Tune — Moggy  Lawder. 
Gallants,  attend,  and  hear  a  friend 

Thrill  forth  harmonious  ditty  : 
Strange  things  I'll  tell,  which  late  befell 

In  Philadelphia  city. 

'Twas  early  day,  as  poets  say, 

Just  when  the  sun  was  rising, 
A  soldier  stood  on  log  of  wood, 

And  saw  a  sight  surprizing. 

As  in  a  maze  he  stood  to  gaze, 

The  truth  can't  be  denied,  Sir, 
He  spied  a  score  of  kegs  or  more, 

Come  floating  down  the  tide,  Sir. 

A  sailor,  too,  in  jerkin  blue, 

The  strange  appearance  viewing, 
First  damn'd  his  eyes,  in  great  surprize, 

Then  said,  "  some  mischief's  brewing. 

u  These  kegs  now  hold  the  rebels  bold, 

"  Pack'd  up  like  pickled  herring  ; 
"  And  they're  come  down,  t'  attack  the  town 

44  In  this  new  way  of  ferrying." 

The  soldier  flew  ;  the  sailor  too  ; 

And  scar'd  almost  to  death,  Sir, 
Wore  out  their  shoes  to  spread  the  news, 

And  ran  till  out  of  breath,  Sir. 

Now  up  and  down,  throughout  the  town, 

Most  frantic  scenes  were  acted  ; 
And  some  ran  here,  and  some  ran  there^ 

Like  men  almost  distracted. 

Some  fire  cried,  which  some  denied, 

But  said  the  earth  had  quaked  : 
And  girls  and  boys,  with  hideous  noise., 

Ran  through  the  town  half  naked. 

Sir  William*  he,  snug  as  a  flea, 

Lay  all  this  time  a  snoring ; 
Nor  dreamt  of  harm,  as  he  lay  warm 

In  bed  with  Mrs.  L ng.t 

*  Sir  William  Howe. 

t  The  wife  of  Joshua  Loring,  a  refugee  from  Boston,  made  commis 
sary  of  prisoners,  by  General  Howe.  "  The  consummate  cruelties 
practised  on  the  American  prisoners  under  his  administration,  almost 
exceed  the  ordinary  powers  of  human  invention.  The  conduct  of  the 
Turks  in  putting  all  prisoners  to  death,  is  certainly  much  more  rational 
and  humane,  than  that  of  the  British  army  for  the  first  three  years  of 
the  American  war,  or  till  after  the  capture  of  Burgoyne." 


454  APPENDIX. 

Now  in  a  fright,  he  starts  upright, 

Awak'd  by  such  a  clatter, 
He  rubs  both  eyes,  and  boldly  cries, 

"  For  God's  sake,  what's  the  matter?1' 

At  his  bed-side  he  then  espied 

Sir  Erskine*  at  command,  Sir  ; 
Upon  one  foot  he  had  one  boot, 

And  t'other  in  his  hand,  Sir. 

"  Arise  !  arise  !"  Sir  Erskine  cries  ; 

"  The  rebels — more's  the  pity — 
u  Without  a  boat,  are  all  on  float, 

"  And  rang'd  before  the  city. 

"  The  motley  crew,  in  vessels  new, 
"  With  satan  for  their  guide,  Sir, 

"  Pack'd  up  in  bags,  or  wooden  kegs, 
"  Come  driving  down  the  tide,  Sir : 

"  Therefore  prepare  for  bloody  war ; 

"  These  kegs  must  all  be  routed, 
"  Or  surely  we  despis'd  shall  be, 

"  And  British  courage  doubted." 

The  royal  band  now  ready  stand, 

All  rang'd  in  dread  array,  Sir, 
With  stomachs  stout,  to  see  it  out, 

And  make  a  bloody  day,  Sir. 

The  cannons  roar  from  shore  to  shore, 

The  small  arms  make  a  rattle : 
Since  wars  began,  I'm  sure  no  man 

E'er  saw  so  strange  a  battle. 

The  rebel  vales,  the  rebel  dales, 

With  rebel  trees  surrounded, 
The  distant  woods,  the  hills  and  floods, 

With  rebel  echoes  sounded. 

The  fish  below  swam  to  and  fro, 

Attack'd  from  ev'ry  quarter  ; 
"  Why  sure,"  thought  they,  "  the  devil's  to  pay 

"  'Mongst  folks  above  the  water." 

The  kegs,  'tis  said,  though  strongly  made 

Of  rebel  staves  and  hoops,  Sir, 
Could  not  oppose  their  pow'rful  foes, 

The  conq'ring  British  troops,  Sir. 

From  morn  to  night  these  men  of  might 

Display'd  amazing  courage : 
And  when  the  sun  was  fairly  down, 

Retir'd  to  sup  their  porridge. 

A  hundred  men,  with  each  a  pen, 

Or  more,  upon  my  word,  Sir, 
It  is  most  true,  would  be  too  few 

Their  valor  to  record,  Sir. 

*  Sir  William  Erskine. 


APPENDIX.  455 


Such  feats  did  they  perform  that  day, 

Upon  these  wicked  kegs,  Sir, 
That  years  to  come,  if  they  get  home, 

They'll  make  their  boasts  and  brags,  Sir. 


Note  IV.—  Page  310. 

The  following  is  an  abstract  of  an  interesting  narra 
tive  taken  from  the  travels  of  the  late  Dr.  Dwight. 

After  the  failure  of  the  expedition  against  the 
British  garrison  at  Penobscot,  General  Peleg  Wads- 
worth  was  appointed  in  the  spring  of  1780,  to  the 
command  of  a  party  of  state  troops  in  Camden,  in  the 
District  of  Maine.  At  the  expiration  of  the  period 
for  which  the  troops  were  engaged  in  February  fol 
lowing,  General  Wadsworth  dismissed  his  troops,  re 
taining  six  soldiers  only  as  his  guard,  and  he  was 
making  preparations  to  depart  from  the  place.  A 
neighboring  inhabitant  communicated  his  situation  to 
the  British  commander  at  Penobscot,  and  a  party  of 
twenty  five  soldiers  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Stock 
ton,  was  sent  to  make  him  a  prisoner.  They  em 
barked  in  a  small  schooner,  and  landing  within  four 
miles  of  the  general's  quarters,  they  were  concealed 
at  the  house  of  one  Snow,  a  methodist  preacher,  pro 
fessedly  a  friend  to  him,  but  really  a  traitor,  till 
eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  where  they  made  their 
arrangements  for  the  attack  on  the  general's  quarters. 
The  party  rushed  suddenly  on  the  sentinel,  who  gave 
the  alarm  and  one  of  his  comrades  instantly  opened 
the  door  of  the  kitchen,  and  the  enemy  were  so  near 
as  to  enter  with  the  sentinel.  The  lady  of  the  gene 
ral,  and  her  friend  Miss  Fenno,  of  Boston,  were  in  the 
house  at  the  time,  and  Mrs.  Wadsworth  escaped  from 
the  room  of  her  husband  into  that  of  Miss  Fenno. 
The  assailants  soon  became  masters  of  the  whole 
house,  except  the  room  where  the  general  was,  and 
which  was  strongly  barred,  and  they  kept  up  a  con 
stant  firing  of  musketry  into  the  windows  and  doors 


456  APPENDIX. 

except  into  those  of  the  ladies'  room.  General  Wads- 
worth  was  provided  with  a  pair  of  pistols,  a  blunder 
buss  and  a  fusee,  which  he  employed  with  great  dex 
terity,  being  determined  to  defend  himself  to  the  last 
moment.  With  his  pistols,  which  he  discharged 
several  times,  he  defended  the  windows  of  his  room 
and  a  door  which  opened  into  the*  kitchen.  His 
blunderbuss  he  snapped  several  times,  but  unfortu 
nately  it  missed  fire,  he  then  seized  his  fusee,  which 
he  discharged  on  some  who  were  breaking  through 
one  of  the  windows,  and  obliged  them  to  flee.  He 
next  defended  himself  with  his  bayonet,  till  he  re 
ceived  a  ball  through  his  left  arm,  when  he  surren 
dered,  which  terminated  the  contest.  The  firing 
however,  did  not  cease  from  the  kitchen  till  the  gen 
eral  unbarred  the  door,  when  the  soldiers  rushed  into 
the  room,  and  one  of  them  who  had  been  badly 
wounded,  pointing  a  musket  at  his  breast,  exclaimed 
with  an  oath,  "  you  have  taken  my  life  and  I  will 
take  yours."  But  Lieutenant  Stockton  turned  the 
musket  and  saved  his  life.  The  commanding  officer 
now  applauded  the  general  for  his  admirable  defence, 
and  assisted  in  putting  on  his  clothes,  saying,  "  you 
see  we  are  in  a  critical  situation,  you  must  excuse 
haste."  Mrs.  Wadsworth  threw  a  blanket  over  him, 
and  Miss  Fenno  applied  a  handkerchief  closely  round 
his  wounded  arm.  In  this  condition,  though  much 
exhausted,  he,  with  a  wounded  American  soldier,  was 
directed  to  march  on  foot,  while  two  British  wound 
ed  soldiers  were  mounted  on  a  horse  taken  from 
the  general's  barn.  They  departed  in  great  haste. 
When  they  had  proceeded  about  a  mile,  they  met  at 
a  small  house,  a  number  of  people  who  had  collected, 
and  who  inquired  if  they  had  taken  General  Wads- 
worth.  They  said  no,  and  added,  that  they  must 
leave  a  wounded  man  in  their  care,  and  if  they  paid 
proper  attention  to  him  they  should  be  compensated, 
but  if  not,  they  would  burn  down  their  house,  but 
the  man  appeared  to  be  dying.  General  Wadsworth 


APPENDIX.  457 

was  now  mounted  on  the  horse  behind  the  other 
wounded  soldier,  and  was  warned  that  his  safety  de 
pended  on  his  silence.  Having  crossed  over  a  frozen 
mill  pond  about  a  mile  in  length,  they  were  met  by 
some  of  their  party  who  had  been  left  behind.  At  this 
place  they  found  the  British  privateer  which  brought 
the  party  from  the  fort,  the  captain  on  being  told 
that  he  must  return  there  with  the  prisoner  and  the 
party,  and  seeing  some  of  his  men  wounded,  became 
outrageous,  and  damned  the  general  for  a  rebel,  de 
manded  how  he  dared  to  fire  on  the  king's  troops, 
and  ordered  him  to  help  launch  the  boat  or  he  would 
put  his  hanger  through  his  body.  The  general  re 
plied  that  he  was  a  prisoner,  and  badly  wounded  and 
could  not  assist  in  launching  the  boat.  Lieutenant 
Stockton,  on  learning  of  this  abusive  treatment,  in  a 
manner  honorable  to  himself,  told  the  captain  that 
the  prisoner  was  a  gentleman,  had  made  a  brave  de 
fence,  and  was  to  be  treated  accordingly,  and  added, 
that  his  conduct  should  be  represented  to  General 
Campbell.  After  this  the  captain  treated  the  prisoner 
with  great  civility  and  afforded  him  every  comfort 
in  his  power.  General  Wadsworth  had  left  the 
ladies  in  the  house,  not  a  window  of  which  escaped 
destruction.  The  doors  were  broken  down  and  two 
of  the  rooms  were  set  on  fire,  the  floors  covered  with 
blood,  and  on  one  of  them  lay  a  hrave  old  soldier 
dangerously  wounded  begging  for  death,  that  he 
might  be  released  from  misery.  The  anxiety  and  dis 
tress  of  Mrs.  Wadsworth  was  inexpressible,  and  that 
of  the  general  was  greatly  increased  by  the  uncertain 
ty  in  his  mind  respecting  the  fate  of  his  little  son, 
only  five  years  old,  who  had  been  exposed  to  every 
danger  by  the  firing  into  the  house,  but  he  had  the 
happiness  afterwards  to  hear  of  his  safety.  Having 
arrived  at  the  British  post,  the  capture  of  General 
Wadsworth  was  soon  announced  and  the  shore  throng 
ed  with  spectators,  to  see  the  man,  who,  through  the 
preceding  year,  had  disappointed  all  the  designs  of 
58 


458  APPENDIX. 

the  British  in  that  quarter;  and  loud  shouts  were 
heard  from  the  rabble  which  covered  the  shore  ;  but 
when  he  arrived  at  the  fort  and  was  conducted  into 
the  officers'  guard  room,  he  was  treated  with  polite 
ness.  General  Campbell,  the  commandant  of  the 
British  garrison,  sent  his  compliments  to  him  and  a 
surgeon  to  dress  his  wounds,  assuring  him  that  his 
situation  should  be  made  comfortable.  The  next 
morning,  General  Campbell  invited  him  to  breakfast, 
arid  at  table  paid  him  many  compliments  on  the  de 
fence  he  had  made,  observing  however,  that  he  had 
exposed  himself  in  a  degree  not  perfectly  justifiable. 
General  Wadsworth  replied,  that  from  the  manner  of 
the  attack  he  had  no  reason  to  suspect  any  design  of 
taking  him  alive,  and  that  he  intended  therefore  to 
sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible.  "  But,  Sir,"  says 
General  Campbell,  "  I  understand  that  the  captain  of 
the  privateer  treated  you  very  ill,  I  shall  see  that 
matter  set  right."  He  then  informed  the  prisoner, 
that  a  room  in  the  officers'  barracks  within  the  fort, 
was  prepared  for  him,  and  that  he  should  send  his 
orderly  sergeant  daily  to  attend  him  to  breakfast  and 
dinner  at  his  table.  Having  retired  to  his  solitary 
apartment,  and  while  his  spirits  were  extremely  de 
pressed  by  a  recollection  of  the  past,  and  by  his  pre 
sent  situation,  he  received  from  General  Campbell 
several  books  of  amusement,  and  soon  after  a  visit 
from  him,  kindly  endeavoring  to  cheer  the  spirits  of 
his  prisoner  by  conversation.  Not  long  after,  the 
officers  of  the  party  called,  and  among  others  the  re 
doubtable  captain  of  the  privateer,  who  called  to  ask 
pardon  for  what  had  fallen  from  him  when  in  a  pas 
sion,  adding,  that  it  was  not  in  his  nature  to  treat  a 
gentleman  prisoner  ill,  that  the  unexpected  disap 
pointment  of  his  cruise  had  thrown  him  off  his  guard, 
and  he  hoped  that  this  would  be  deemed  a  sufficient 
apology.  This  General  Wadsworth  accepted.  At 
the  hour  of  dining  he  was  invited  to  the  table  of 
the  commandant,  where  he  met  with  all  the  principal 


APPENDIX.  459 

officers  of  the  garrison,  and  from  whom  he  received 
particular  attention  and  politeness.  General  Wads- 
worth  soon  made  application  to  the  commandant  for 
a  flag  of  truce,  by,  which  means  he  could  transmit  a 
letter  to  the  governor  of  Massachusetts,  and  another 
to  Mrs.  Wadsworth,  this  was  granted,  on  the  con 
dition  that  the  letter  to  the  governor  should  be 
inspected.  The  flag  was  entrusted  to  Lieutenant 
Stockton,  and  on  his  return,  the  general  was  relieved 
from  all  anxiety  respecting  his  wife  and  family.  Gen 
eral  Campbell,  and  the  officers  of  the  garrison,  con 
tinued  their  civilities  for  some  time,  and  endeavored 
by  books  and  personal  visits  to  render  his  situation  as 
pleasant  as  circumstances  would  admit  of.  At  the 
end  of  five  weeks,  his  wound  being  nearly  healed,  he 
requested  of  General  Campbell,  the  customary  privi 
lege  of  a  parole,  and  received  in  reply,  that  his  case 
had  been  reported  to  the  commanding  officer  at  New 
York,  and  that  no  alteration  could  be  made  till  orders 
were  received  from  that  quarter.  In  about  two 
months,  Mrs.  Wadsworth,  and  Miss  Fenno  arrived, 
and  General  Campbell,  and  some  of  the  officers,  con 
tributed  to  render  their  visit  agreeable  to  all  con 
cerned.  About  the  same  time,  orders  were  received 
from  the  commanding  general  at  New  York,  which 
were  concealed  from  General  Wadsworth,  but  he 
finally  learnt  that  he  was  not  to  be  paroled  nor  ex 
changed,  but  was  to  be  sent  to  England  as  a  rebel  of 
too  much  consequence  to  be  at  liberty.  Not  long 
afterwards  Major  Benjamin  Burton,  a  brave  and 
worthy  man,  who  had  served  under  General  Wads- 
worth  the  preceding  summer,  was  taken  and  brought 
into  the  fort,  and  lodged  in  the  same  room  with  Gen 
eral  Wadsworth.  He  had  been  informed,  that  both 
himself  and  the  general  were  to  be  sent,  immediately 
after  the  return  of  a  privateer  now  out  on  a  cruise, 
either  to  New  York  or  Halifax,  and  thence  to  Eng 
land.  The  prisoners  immediately  resolved  to  make 
a  desperate  attempt  to  effect  their  escape.  They 


460  APPENDIX. 

were  confined  in  a  grated  room  in  the  officers'  bar 
racks  within  the  fort.  The  walls  of  this  fortress,  ex 
clusively  of  the  depth  of  the  ditch  surrounding  it,  were 
twenty  feet  high,  with  fraising  on  the  top,  and  che- 
vaux  de  frise  at  the  bottom.  Two  sentinels  were 
always  in  the  entry,  and  their  door,  the  upper  part 
of  which  was  of  glass,  might  be  opened  by  these 
watchmen  whenever  they  thought  proper,  and  was 
actually  opened  at  seasons  of  peculiar  darkness  and 
silence.  At  the  exterior  doors  of  the  entries,  senti 
nels  were  also  stationed,  as  were  others  in  the  body 
of  the  fort,  and  at  the  quarters  of  General  Campbell. 
At  the  guard  house,  a  strong  guard  was  daily  mount 
ed.  Several  sentinels  were  stationed  on  the  walls  of 
the  fort,  and  a  complete  line  occupied  them  by  night. 
Without  the  ditch,  glacis  and  abattis,  another  com 
plete  set  of  soldiers  patroled  through  the  night,  also. 
The  gate  of  the  fort  was  shut  at  sun  set,  and  a  piquet 
guard  was  placed  on  or  near  the  isthmus  leading  from 
the  fort  to  the  main  land. 

The  room  in  which  they  were  confined  was  railed 
with  boards.  One  of  these  they  determined  to  cut 
off  so  as  to  make  a  hole  large  enough  to  pass  through, 
and  then  to  creep  along  till  they  should  come  to  the 
next  or  middle  entry ;  and  then  lower  themselves 
down  into  this  entry  by  a  blanket.  If  they  should 
not  be  discovered,  the  passage  to  the  walls  of  the  fort 
was  easy.  In  the  evening,  after  the  sentinels  had 
seen  the  prisoners  retire  to  bed,  General  Wadsworth 
got  up  and  standing  in  a  chair  attempted  to  cut  with 
his  knife  the  intended  opening,  but  soon  found  it 
impracticable.  The  next  day  by  giving  a  soldier  a 
dollar  they  procured  a  gimblet.  With  this  instru 
ment  they  proceeded  cautiously  and  as  silently  as 
possible  to  perforate  the  board,  and  in  order  to  con 
ceal  every  appearance  from  their  servants  and  from 
the  officers  their  visiters,  they  carefully  covered  the 
gimblet  holes  with  chewed  bread.  At  the  end  of 
three  weeks  their  labors  were  so  far  completed  that 


APPENDIX.  461 

it  only  remained  to  cut  with  a  knife  the  parts  which 
were  left  to  hold  the  piece  in  its  place.  When  their 
preparations  were  finished,  they  learned  that  the 
privateer  in  which  they  were  to  embark  was  daily 
expected.  In  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  June,  a 
very  severe  storm  of  rain,  with  great  darkness  and 
almost  incessant  lightning  came  on.  This  the  priso 
ners  considered  as  the  propitious  moment.  Having 
extinguished  their  lights,  they  began  to  cut  the  cor 
ners  of  the  board,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  the  in 
tended  opening  was  completed.  The  noise  which 
the  operation  occasioned  was  drowned  by  the  rain  fall 
ing  on  the  roof.  Major  Burton  first  ascended  to  the 
ceiling,  and  pressed  himself  through  the  opening. 
General  Wadsworth  next,  having  put  the  corner  of 
his  blanket  through  the  hole  and  made  it  fast  by 
a  strong  wooden  skewer,  attempted  to  make  his 
way  through,  standing  on  a  chair  below,  but  it  was 
with  extreme  difficulty  that  he  at  length  effected  it, 
and  reached  the  middle  entry.  From  this  he  pass* 
ed  through  the  door  which  he  found  open,  and  made 
his  way  to  the  wall  of  the  fort,  and  had  to  encounter 
the  greatest  difficulty  before  he  could  ascend  to  the 
top.  He  had  now  to  creep  along  the  top  of  the  fort 
between  the  sentry  boxes  at  the  very  moment  when 
the  relief  was  shifting  sentinels,  but  the  falling  of 
heavy  rain  kept  the  sentinels  within  their  boxes,  and 
favored  his  escape.  Having  now  fastened  his  blanket 
round  a  picket  at  the  top,  he  let  himself  down 
through  the  chevaux  de  frise  to  the  ground,  and  in  a 
manner  astonishing  to  himself  made  his  way  into  the 
open  field.  Here  he  was  obliged  to  grope  his  way 
among  rocks,  stumps  and  brush  in  the  darkness  of 
night,  till  he  reached  the  cove,  happily  the  tide  had 
ebbed  and  enabled  him  to  cross  the  water  about  a 
mile  in  breadth  and  not  more  than  three  feet  deep. 
About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  General  Wads- 
worth  found  himself  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort, 
ajid  he  proceeded  through  a  thick  wood  and  brush  to 


462  APPENDIX. 

the  Penobscot  river,  and  after  passing  some  distance 
along  the  shore,  being  seven  miles  from  the  fort,  to 
his  unspeakable  joy  he  saw  his  friend  Burton  ad 
vancing  towards  him.  Major  Burton  had  been  oblig 
ed  to  encounter  in  his  course  equal  difficulties  with 
his  companion,  and  such  were  the  incredible  perils, 
dangers  and  obstructions,  which  they  surmounted, 
that  their  escape  may  be  considered  almost  miracu 
lous.  It  was  now  necessary  they  should  cross  the 
Penobscot  river,  and  very  fortunately  they  discovered 
a  canoe  with  oars  on  the  shore  suited  to  their  pur 
pose.  While  on  the  river  they  discovered  a  barge 
with  a  party  of  British  from  the  fort  in  pursuit  of 
them,  but  by  taking  an  oblique  course,  and  plying 
their  oars  to  the  utmost,  they  happily  eluded  the 
eyes  of  their  pursuers  and  arrived  safe  on  the  west 
ern  shore.  After  having  wandered  in  the  wilder 
ness  for  several  days  and  nights,  exposed  to  extreme 
fatigue  and  cold,  and  with  no  other  food  than  a  little 
dry  bread  and  meat,  which  they  brought  in  their 
pockets  from  the  fort,  they  reached  the  settlements 
on  the  river  St.  George,  and  no  further  difficulties 
attended  their  return  to  their  respective  families. 


Note  V. 

There  is  a  particular  transaction  in  the  history  of 
our  Revolutionary  war,  which  was  known  only  to 
General  Washington  and  a  single  confidential  officer, 
the  gallant  Major  Lee,  commander  of  a  corps  of  cav 
alry.  As  the  story  is  particularly  interesting,  and 
as  it  has  never  been  disclosed  to  the  public,  by  any 
historian,  except  by  Major  Lee  in  his  valuable 
memoirs,  I  cannot  resist  the  temptation  of  enriching 
this  work  with  the  narration,  in  the  words  of  the  re 
spectable  author. 

"Lately,  John  Champe,  sergeant  major  of  the  le 
gion  of  cavalry,  who  had  been  for  several  months  con- 


APPENDIX.  463 

sidered  by  the  corps  a  deserter,  returned.  This 
high-minded  soldier  had  been  selected  to  undertake 
a  very  difficult  and  perilous  project,  the  narration  of 
which  is  due  to  his  merit,  as  well  as  to  the  singularity 
of  his  progress. 

"The  treason  of  General  Arnold, — the  capture  of 
Andre,  with  intelligence  received  by  Washington, 
through  his  confidential  agents  in  New  York,  com 
municating  that  many  of  his  officers,  and  especially 
a  major  general  named  to  him,  were  connected  with 
Arnold,  could  not  fail  to  seize  the  attention  of  a  com 
mander  even  less  diligent  and  zealous.  It  engaged  his 
mind  entirely,  exciting  sensations  the  most  anxious, 
as  well  as  unpleasant.  The  moment  he  reached  the 
army,  then  under  the  orders  of  Major  General  Greene, 
encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  Tappan,  he  sent  for 
Major  Lee,  posted  with  the  light  troops  some  distance 
in  front.  This  officer  repaired  to  head  quarters  with 
celerity,  and  found  the  general  in  his  marquee  alone, 
busily  engaged  in  writing.  So  soon  as  Lee  entered, 
he  was  requested  to  take  a  seat,  and  a  bundle  of  pa 
pers,  lying  on  the  table,  was  given  to  him  for  perusal. 
In  these  much  information  was  detailed,  tending  to 
prove  that  Arnold  was  not  alone  in  the  base  con 
spiracy  just  detected,  but  that  the  poison  had  spread  ; 
and  that  a  major  general,  whose  name  was  not  con 
cealed,  was  certainly  as  guilty  as  Arnold  himself. 
This  officer  had  enjoyed  without  interruption,  the 
confidence  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  throughout 
the  war ;  nor  did  there  exist  a  single  reason  in  sup 
port  of  the  accusation.  It  altogether  rested  on  the 
intelligence  derived  from  the  papers  before  him. 
Major  Lee,  personally  acquainted  with  the  accused, 
could  not  refrain  from  suggesting  the  probability, 
that  the  whole  was  a  contrivance  of  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  in  order  to  destroy  that  confidence  between 
the  commander  and  his  officers,  on  which  the  suc 
cess  of  military  operations  depend.  This  suggestion, 
Washington  replied,  was  plausible,  and  deserved 


464  APPENDIX. 

due  consideration.  It  had  early  occured  to  his  own 
mind,  and  had  not  been  slightly  regarded ;  but  his 
reflections  settled  in  a  conclusion  not  to  be  shaken, 
as  the  same  suggestion  applied  to  no  officer  more 
forcibly  than  a  few  days  ago  it  would  have  done  to 
General  Arnold,  known  now  to  be  a  traitor. 

"  Announcing  this  result  of  his  meditations  with 
the  tone  and  countenance  of  a  mind  deeply  agitated, 
and  resolved  on  its  course.  Lee  continued  silent,  when 
the  general  proceeded  :  I  have  sent  for  you,  in  the 
expectation  that  you  have  in  your  corps  individuals 
capable  and  willing  to  undertake  an  indispensable, 
delicate,  and  hazardous  project.  Whoever  comes 
forward  on  this  occasion,  will  lay  me  under  great 
obligations  personally ;  and  in  behalf  of  the  United 
States,  I  will  reward  him  amply.  No  time  is  to  be 
lost ;  he  must  proceed,  if  possible,  this  night.  My 
object  is  to  probe  to  the  bottom  the  afflicting  intel 
ligence  contained  in  the  papers  you  have  just  read, 
to  seize  Arnold,  and  by  getting  him,  to  save  Andre. 
They  are  all  connected.  While  my  emissary  is  en 
gaged  in  preparing  means  for  the  seizure  of  Arnold, 
the  guilt  of  others  can  be  traced ;  and  the  timely 
delivery  of  Arnold  to  me,  will  possibly  put  it  into 
my  power  to  restore  the  amiable  and  unfortunate 
Andre  to  his  friends.  My  instructions  are  ready,  in 
which  you  will  find  my  express  orders,  that  Arnold 
is  not  to  be  hurt ;  but  that  he  be  permitted  to  escape, 
if  to  be  prevented  only  by  killing  him,  as  his  public 
punishment  is  the  only  object  in  view.  This  you  can 
not  too  forcibly  press  on  whoever  may  engage  in 
the  enterprize ;  and  this  fail  not  to  do.  With  my  in 
structions  are  two  letters,  to  be  delivered  as  ordered, 
and  here  are  some  guineas  for  expenses. 

"  Major  Lee  replying,  said,  that  he  had  little  or  no 
doubt  but  that  his  legion  contained  many  individuals 
daring  enough  for  any  operation,  however  peril 
ous  ;  but  that  the  one  in  view,  required  a  com 
bination  of  qualities  not  easily  to  be  found,  unless  in 


APPENDIX.  465 

a  commissioned  officer,  to  whom  he  could  not  ven 
ture  to  propose  an  enterprize,  the  first  step  to  which 
was  desertion.  That  though  the  sergeant  major  of 
the  cavalry,  was  in  all  respects  qualified  for  the 
delicate  and  adventurous  project,  and  to  him  it  might 
be  proposed  without  indelicacy,  as  his  station  did 
not  interpose  the  obstacle  before  stated ;  yet  it  was 
very  probable  that  the  same  difficulty  would  occur  in 
his  breast,  to  remove  which  would  not  be  easy,  if 
practicable. 

"  Washington  was  highly  pleased  with  finding  that 
a  non  commissioned  officer  was  deemed  capable  of 
executing  his  views ;  as  he  had  felt  extreme  difficulty 
in  authorizing  an  invitation  to  officers,  who  generally 
are,  and  always  ought  to  be,  scrupulous  and  nice  in 
adhering  to  the  course  of  honor.  He  asked  the  name, 
the  country,  the  age,  the  size,  length  of  service,  and 
character  of  the  sergeant. 

"  Being  told  his  name, — that  he  was  a  native  of 
Loudon  county  in  Virginia ;  about  twenty  four  years 
of  age, — that  he  had  enlisted  in  1776, — rather  above 
the  common  size,  full  of  bone  and  muscle  with  a 
saturnine  countenance,  grave,  thoughtful  and  taci 
turn,— of  tried  courage  and  inflexible  perseverance, 
and  as  likely  to  reject  an  overture  coupled  with  igno 
miny  as  any  officer  in  the  corps ;  a  commission,  being 
the  goal  of  his  long  and  anxious  exertions,  and  cer 
tain  on  the  first  vacancy. 

66  The  general  exclaimed,  that  he  was  the  very  man 
for  the  business ;  that  he  must  undertake  it ;  and  that 
going  to  the  enemy  by  the  instigation  and  at  the  re 
quest  of  his  officer  was  not  desertion,  though  it  ap 
peared  to  be  so  ;  and  he  enjoined  that  this  explana 
tion,  as  coming  from  him,  should  be  pressed  on 
Champe  ;  and  that  the  vast  good  in  prospect  should 
be  contrasted,  with  the  mere  semblance  of  doing 
wrong,  which  he  presumed,  could  not  fail  to  con 
quer  every  scruple.  Major  Lee  assured  the  gen 
eral,  that  every  exertion  would  be  assayed  on  his 
59 


466  APPENDIX. 

part  to  execute  his  wishes;  and  taking  leave,  return 
ed  to  the  camp  of  the  light  corps,  which  he  reached 
about  eight  o'clock  at  night.     Sending  instantly  for 
the  sergeant  major,  he  introduced  the  business  in  the 
way  best  calculated,  as  he  thought,  to  produce   his 
concurrence  ;  and   dilated  largely  on  the  very  great 
obligations    he  would  confer  on  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  whose  unchanging  and  active  beneficence  to 
the  troops  had  justly  drawn  to  him  their  affection, 
which  would  be  merely  nominal,  if,  when  an  opportu 
nity  should  offer  to  any  individual  of  contributing  to 
the  promotion  of  his  views,  that  opportunity  was  not 
zealously  embraced.     That  the  one  now  presented  to 
him  had  never  before  occurred,  and  in  all  probability 
would  never  occur  again,  even  should  the  war  continue 
for  ages ;  it  being  most  rare  for  these  distinct  conse 
quences,  all  of  primary  weight,  to  be  comprised  within 
a  single  operation,  and  that  operation  necessarily  to  be 
entrusted  to  one  man,  who  would  want  but  one  or  two 
associates  in  the  active  part  of  its  execution.    That  the 
chance  of  detection  became  extremely  narrow,  and 
consequently  that  of  success  enlarged.     That  by  suc 
ceeding  in  the  safe  delivery  of  Arnold,  he  not  only 
gratified  his   general   in   the   most  acceptable  man 
ner,  but  he  would  be  hailed  as  the  avenger  of  the 
reputation  of  the  army,  stained  by  foul  and  wicked 
perfidy  ;  and  what  could  not  but  be  highly  pleasing, 
he    would   be  the  instrument  of  saving  the  life  of 
Major  Andre,  soon  to  be  brought  before  a  court  of 
inquiry,  the  decision  of  which  could  not  be  doubted, 
from  the  universally  known  circumstances  of  the  case, 
and  had  been  anticipated  in  the  general's  instructions. 
That  by  investigating  with  diligence  and  accuracy 
the   intelligence   communicated  to   him,    he   would 
bring  to  light  new  guilt,  or  he  would  relieve  inno 
cence,  as  was  most  probable,  from  distrust ;  quieting 
the  torturing   suspicions  which  now   harrowed   the 
mind  of  Washington,  and  restoring  again  to  his  con 
fidence   a  once   honored  general,   possessing  it  at 


APPENDIX.  467 

present  only  ostensibly,  as  well  as  hush  doubts  affect 
ing  many  of  his  brother  soldiers. 

"In  short,  the  accomplishment  of  so  much  good  was 
in  itself  too  attractive  to  be  renounced  by  a  generous 
mind ;  and  when  connected  with  the  recollection  of 
the  high  honor  which  the  selection  shed  on  him  as  a 
soldier,  he  ought  not, — he  must  not  pause.  The 
discourse  was  followed  by  a  detail  of  the  plan,  with  a 
wish  that  he  would  enter  on  its  execution  instantly. 
Charape  listened  with  deep  attention,  and  with  a 
highly  excited  countenance ;  the  perturbations  of  his 
breast  not  being  hid  even  by  his  dark  visage.  He 
briefly,  and  modestly  replied,  that  no  soldier  exceeded 
him  in  respect  and  affection  for  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  to  serve  whom  he  would  willingly  lay  down  his 
life  ;  and  that  he  was  sensible  of  the  honor  conferred 
by  the  choice  of  him  for  the  execution  of  a  project  all 
over  arduous  ;  nor  could  he  be  at  a  loss  to  know  to 
whom  was  to  be  ascribed  the  preference  bestowed, 
which  he  took  pleasure  in  acknowledging,  though  in 
creasing  obligations  before  great  and  many. 

"  That  he  was  charmed  with  the  plan.  Even  its 
partial  success  would  lead  to  great  good  ;  as  it  would 
give  peace  to  the  general's  mind,  and  do  justice,  as 
he  hoped,  to  innocence.  Full  success,  added  power 
ful  and  delicious  personal  incitements,  as  well  as  the 
gratification  of  the  general  and  army.  He  was  not; 
he  said,  deterred  by  the  danger  and  difficulty  which 
was  evidently  to  be  encountered,  but  he  was  deterred 
by  the  ignominy  of  desertion,  to  be  followed  by  the 
hypocrisy  of  enlisting  with  the  enemy  ;  neither  of 
which  comported  with  his  feelings,  and  either  placed 
an  insuperable  bar  in  his  way  to  promotion. 

66  He  concluded  by  observing,  if  any  mode  could 
be  contrived  free  from  disgrace,  he  would  cordially 
embark  in  the  enterprize.  As  it  was,  he  prayed  to 
be  excused ;  and  hoped  that  services,  always  the  best 
in  his  power  to  perform,  faithfully  executed,  did  en 
title  his  prayer  to  success.  The  objections  at  first 


468  APPENDIX. 

apprehended,  now  to  be  combated,  were  extended 
to  a  consequence  which  had  not  suggested  itself.  Lee 
candidly  admitted  that  he  had  expected  the  first  ob 
jection  made,  and  that  only  ;  which  had  been  im 
parted  to  the  general,  who  gave  to  it  full  considera 
tion,  and  concluded  by  declaring,  that  the  crime  of 
desertion  was  not  incurred  ;  as  no  act  done  by  the 
soldier  at  the  request  of  the  Commander  in  Chief 
could  be  considered  as  desertion,  and  that  an  ac 
tion  so  manifestly  praiseworthy  as  that  to  be  per 
formed,  when  known  would  dissipate  by  its  own 
force  the  reflections  excited  by  appearances,  which 
no  doubt  would  be  acrimonious,  leaving  the  actor  in 
full  enjoyment  of  the  future  rich  rewards  of  his 
virtue.  That  the  reflecting  mind  ought  not  to  balance 
between  the  achievement  of  so  much  good,  and  the 
doing  wrong  in  semblance  only ;  to  which  Major  Lee 
subjoined,  that  when  in  consequence  of  the  general's 
call  on  him  for  a  soldier  capable  and  willing  to  ex 
ecute  a  project  so  tempting  to  the  brave,  he  con 
sidered  himself  and  corps  highly  honored  ;  and  that 
he  should  consider  himself  reduced  to  a  mortifying 
condition,  if  the  resistance  to  the  undertaking  com 
pelled  him  to  inform  the  general  that  he  must  recur 
to  some  other  corps  to  provide  an  agent  to  execute 
this  necessary  and  bold  enterprize. 

"  He  entreated  the  sergeant  to  ask  himself  what 
must  be  the  sensations  of  his  comrades,  if  a  soldier 
from  some  other  corps  should  execute  the  enterprize, 
when  they  should  be  told  that  the  glory  transferred 
to  the  regiment  of  which  he  was  one,  might  have 
been  enjoyed  by  the  legion,  had  not  sergeant  Champe 
shrunk  from  the  overture  made  to  him  by  his  general, 
rather  than  reject  scruples  too  narrow  and  confined 
to  be  permitted  to  interfere  with  grand  and  virtuous 
deeds.  The  esprit  du  corps  could  not  be  resisted, 
and  united  to  his  inclination,  it  subdued  his  preju 
dices,  and  he  declared  his  willingness  to  conform  to 
the  wishes  of  the  general ;  relying,  as  he  confidently 


APPENDIX.  469 

did,  that  his  reputation  would  be  protected  by  those 
who  had  induced  him  to  undertake  the  enterprize, 
should  he  be  unfortunate  in  the  attempt. 

"The  instructions  were  read  to  him,  and  every 
distinct  object  presented  plainly  to  his  view,  of  which 
he  took  notes  so  disguised  as  to  be  understood  only 
by  himself.  He  was  particularly  cautioned  to  use 
the  utmost  circumspection  in  delivering  his  letters, 
and  to  take  care  to  withhold  from  the  two  individuals, 
addressed  under  feigned  names,  knowledge  of  each 
other ;  for  though  both  had  long  been  in  the  con 
fidence  of  the  general,  yet  it  was  not  known  by  one 
that  the  other  was  so  engaged. 

"  He  was  further  urged,  to  bear  in  constant  recol 
lection  the  solemn  injunction  so  pointedly  expressed 
in  the  instructions  to  Major  Lee,  of  forbearing  to 
kill  Arnold  in  any  condition  of  things. 

"This  part  of  the  business  being  finished,  the 
major's  and  sergeant's  deliberation  were  turned  to 
the  manner  of  the  latter's  desertion  ;  for  it  was 
well  known  to  both,  that  to  pass  the  numerous  pa- 
troles  of  horse  and  foot  crossing  from  the  stationary 
guards,  was  itself  difficult,  which  was  now  rendered 
more  so  by  parties  thrown  occasionally  beyond  the 
place  called  Liberty  Pole,  as  well  as  by  swarms  of 
irregulars,  induced  sometimes  to  venture  down  to 
the  very  point  of  Paulus?  Hook  with  the  hope  of 
picking  up  booty.  Evidently  discernible  as  were  the 
difficulties  in  the  way,  no  relief  could  be  administer 
ed  by  Major  Lee,  lest  it  might  induce  a  belief  that 
he  was  privy  to  the  desertion,  which  opinion  getting 
to  the  enemy  would  involve  the  life  of  Champe. 
The  sergeant  was  left  to  his  own  resources  and  to  his 
own  management,  with  the  declared  determination 
that  in  case  his  departure  should  be  discovered  be 
fore  morning,  Lee  would  take  care  to  delay  pursuit 
as  long  as  was  practicable. 

"  Giving  to  the  sergeant  three  guineas,  and  pre 
senting  his  best  wishes,  he  recommended  him  to  start 


470  APPENDIX. 

without  delay,  and  enjoined  him  to  communicate  his 
arrival  in  New  York  as  soon  thereafter  as  might  be 
practicable.  Champe  pulling  out  his  watch,  compar 
ed  it  with  the  major's,  reminding  the  latter  of  the  im 
portance  of  holding  back  pursuit,  which  he  was  con 
vinced  would  take  place  in  the  course  of  the  night, 
and  which  might  be  fatal,  as  he  knew  that  he  should 
be  obliged  to  zigzag  in  order  to  avoid  the  patroles, 
which  would  consume  time.  It  was  now  nearly 
eleven.  The  sergeant  returned  to  camp,  and  taking 
his  cloak,  valice  and  orderly  book,  he  drew  his  horse 
from  the  picket,  and  mounting  him  put  himself  on 
fortune.  Lee  charmed  with  his  expeditious  consum 
mation  of  the  first  part  of  the  enterprize,  retired  /to 
rest.  Useless  attempt !  the  past  scene  could  not  be 
obliterated ;  and,  indeed,  had  that  been  practicable, 
the  interruption  which  ensued  would  have  stopped 
repose. 

Within  half  an  hour  Captain  Carnes,  officer  of  the 
day,  waited  on  the  major,  and  with  considerable 
emotion  told  him  that  one  of  the  patrole  had  fallen 
in  with  a  dragoon,  who,  being  challenged,  put  spur 
to  his  horse,  and  escaped,  though  instantly  pursued. 
Lee  complaining  of  the  interruption,  and  pretending 
to  be  extremely  fatigued  by  his  ride  to  and  from 
head  quarters,  answered  as  if  he  did  not  understand 
what  had  been  said,  which  compelled  the  captain  to 
repeat  it.  Who  can  the  fellow  that  was  pursued  be? 
inquired  the  major ;  adding,  a  countryman,  proba 
bly.  No,  replied  the  captain,  the  patrole  sufficiently 
distinguished  him  to  know  that  he  was  a  dragoon  ; 
probably  one  from  the  army,  if  not  certainly  one  of 
our  own.  This  idea  was  ridiculed  from  its  impro 
bability,  as  during  the  whole  war  but  a  single  dra 
goon  had  deserted  from  the  legion.  This  did  not 
convince  Carnes,  so  much  stress  was  it  now  the  fash 
ion  to  lay  on  the  desertion  of  Arnold,  and  the  proba 
ble  effect  of  his  example.  The  captain  withdrew  to 
examine  the  squadron  of  horse,  whom  he  had  order- 


APPENDIX.  471 

ed  to  assemble  in  pursuance  of  established  usage 
on  similar  occasions.  Very  quickly  he  returned, 
stating  that  the  scoundrel  was  known,  and  was  no 
less  a  person  than  the  sergeant  major,  who  was 
gone  off  with  his  horse,  baggage,  arms  and  orderly 
book, — so  presumed,  as  neither  the  one  nor  the 
other  could  be  found.  Sensibly  affected  at  the  sup 
posed  baseness  of  a  soldier  extremely  respected,  the 
captain  added  that  he  had  ordered  a  party  to  make 
ready  for  pursuit,  and  begged  the  major's  written 
orders. 

"  Occasionally  this  discourse  was  interrupted,  and 
every  idea  suggested  which  the  excellent  character 
of  the  sergeant  warranted,  to  induce  the  suspicion 
that  he  had  not  deserted,  but  had  taken  the  liberty 
to  leave  camp  with  a  view  to  personal  pleasure ;  an 
example,  said  Lee,  too  often  set  by  the  officers 
themselves,  destructive  as  it  was  of  discipline,  op 
posed  as  it  was  to  orders,  and  disastrous  as  it  might 
prove  to  the  corps  in  the  course  of  service. 

"  Some  little  delay  was  thus  interposed ;  but  it 
being  now  announced  that  the  pursuing  party  was 
ready,  Major  Lee  directed  a  change  in  the  officer, 
saying  that  he  had  a  particular  service  in  view,  which 
he  had  determined  to  entrust  to  the  lieutenant  ready 
for  duty,  and  which  probably  must  be  performed  in 
the  morning.  He  therefore  directed  him  to  summon 
Cornet  Middleton  for  the  present  command.  Lee 
was  induced  thus  to  act,  first  to  add  to  the  delay, 
and  next  from  his  knowledge  of  the  tenderness  of 
Middleton?s  disposition,  which  he  hoped  would  lead 
to  the  protection  of  Champe,  should  he  be  taken. 
Within  ten  minutes  Middleton  appeared  to  receive 
his  orders,  which  were  delivered  to  him  made  out 
in  the  customary  form,  and  signed  by  the  major. 
"  Pursue  so  far  as  you  can  with  safety  sergeant 
Champe,  who  is  suspected  of  deserting  to  the  enemy, 
and  has  taken  the  road  leading  to  Paulus*  Hook. 
Bring  him  alive,  that  he  may  suffer  in  the  presence 


472  APPENDIX. 

of  the  army,  but  kill  him  if  he  resists,  or  escapes 
after  being  taken." 

"  Detaining  the  cornet  a  few  minutes  longer  in 
advising  him  what  course  to  pursue, — urging  him  to 
take  care  of  the  horse  and  accoutrements,  if  recover 
ed, — and  enjoining  him  to  be  on  his  guard,  lest  he 
might,  by  his  eager  pursuit,  improvidently  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy, — the  major  dismissed  Mid- 
dleton,  wishing  him  success.  A  shower  of  rain  fell 
soon  after  Champe's  departure,  which  enabled  the 
pursuing  dragoons  to  take  the  trail  of  his  horse ; 
knowing,  as  officer  and  trooper  did,  the  make  of  their 
shoes,  whose  impression  was  an  unerring  guide.* 

"  When  Middleton  departed,  it  was  a  few  minutes 
past  twelve,  so  that  Champe  had  only  the  start  of 
rather  more  than  an  hour, — by  no  means  so  long  as 
was  desired.  Lee  became  very  unhappy,  not  only 
because  the  estimable  and  gallant  Champe  might  be 
injured,  but  lest  the  enterprize  might  be  delayed ; 
and  he  spent  a  sleepless  night.  The  pursuing  party 
during  the  night,  was,  on  their  part,  delayed  by  the 
necessary  halts  to  examine  occasionally  the  road,  as 
the  impression  of  the  horse's  shoes  directed  their 
course  ;  this  was  unfortunately  too  evident,  no  other 
horse  having  passed  along  the  road  since  the  shower. 
When  the  day  broke,  Middleton  was  no  longer  forced 
to  halt,  and  he  passed  on  with  rapidity.  Ascending 
an  eminence  before  he  reached  the  Three  Pigeons, 
some  miles  on  the  north  of  the  village  of  Bergen,  as 
the  pursuing  party  reached  its  summit,  Champe  was 
descried  not  more  than  half  a  mile  in  front.  Resem 
bling  an  Indian  in  his  vigilance,  the  sergeant  at  the 
same  moment  discovered  the  party,  to  whose  object 
he  was  no  stranger,  and  giving  spur  to  his  horse,  he 
determined  to  outstrip  his  pursuers.  Middleton  at 

*  The  horses  being  all  shod  by  our  own  farriers,  the  shoes  were  made 
in  the  same  form  ;  which,  with  a  private  mark  annexed  to  the  fore 
shoes,  and  known  to  the  troopers,  pointed  out  the  trail  of  our  dragoons 
to.  each  other,  which  was  often  very  useful. 


APPENDIX.  473 

the  same  instant  put  his  horses  to  the  top  of  their 
speed  ;  and  being,  as  the  legion  all  were,  well  ac 
quainted  with  the  country,  he  recollected  a  short 
route  through  the  woods  to  the  hridge  below  Bergen, 
which  diverged  from  the  great  road  just  after  you 
gain  the  Three  Pigeons.  Reaching  the  point  of 
separation,  he  halted,  and  dividing  his  party,  direct 
ed  a  sergeant  with  a  few  dragoons  to  take  the  near 
cut,  and  possess  with  all  possible  despatch  the  bridge, 
while  he  with  the  residue,  followed  Champe ;  not 
doubting  but  that  Champe  must  deliver  himself  up, 
as  he  would  be  enclosed  between  himself  and  his 
sergeant.  Champe  did  not  forget  the  short  cut,  and 
would  have  taken  it  himself,  but  he  knew  it  was  the 
usual  route  of  our  parties  when  returning  in  the  day 
from  the  neighborhood  of  the  enemy,  properly  pre 
ferring  the  woods  to  the  road.  He  consequently 
avoided  it;  and  pursuaded  that  Middleton  would 
avail  himself  of  it,  wisely  resolved  to  relinquish  his 
intention  of  getting  to  Paul  us'  Hook,  and  to  seek 
refuge  from  two  British  galleys,  laying  a  few  miles 
to  the  west  of  Bergen. 

"This  was  a  station  always  occupied  by  one  or  two 
galleys,  and  which  it  was  known  now  lay  there.  En 
tering  the  village  of  Bergen,  Champe  turned  to  his 
right  and  disguising  his  change  of  course  as  much 
as  he  could  by  taking  the  beaten  streets,  turning  as 
they  turned,  he  passed  through  the  village  and  took 
the  road  towards  Elizabethtown  Point.  Middleton's 
sergeant  gained  the  bridge,  where  he  concealed  him 
self,  ready  to  pounce  on  Champe,  when  he  came  up; 
and  Middleton,  pursuing  his  course  through  Bergen, 
soon  got  also  to  the  bridge,  when,  to  his  extreme 
mortification,  he  found  that  the  sergeant  had  slipped 
through  his  fingers.  Returning  up  the  road,  he 
inquired  of  the  villagers  of  Bergen,  whether  a  dra 
goon  had  been  seen  that  morning  preceding  his  party. 
He  was  answered  in  the  affirmative,  but  could  learn 
nothing  satisfactory  as  to  the  route  he  had  taken. 
60  v 


474  APPENDIX. 

While  engaged  in  inquiries  himself,  he  spread  his 
party  through  the  village  to  strike  the  trail  of 
Champe's  horse,  a  resort  always  recurred  to.  Some 
of  his  dragoons  hit  it,  just  as  the  sergeant,  leaving 
the  village,  got  in  the  road  to  the  point.  Pursuit 
was  renewed  with  vigor,  and  again  Champe  was  des 
cried.  He,  apprehending  the  event,  had  prepared 
himself  for  it,  by  lashing  his  valice  containing  his 
clothes  and  orderly  book,  on  his  shoulders,  and  hold 
ing  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  having  thrown 
away  its  scabbard.  This  he  did  to  save  what  was 
indispensable  to  him,  and  to  prevent  any  interruption 
to  his  swimming  from  the  scabbard,  should  Middle- 
ton,  as  he  presumed,  when  disappointed  at  the  bridge, 
take  the  measures  adopted  by  him.  The  pursuit 
was  rapid  and  close,  as  the  stop  occasioned  by  the 
sergeant's  preparations  for  swimming  had  brought 
Middleton  within  two  or  three  hundred  yards.  As 
soon  as  Champe  got  abreast  of  the  galleys,  he  dis 
mounted,  and  running  through  the  marsh  to  the 
river,  plunged  into  it,  calling  on  the  galleys  for  help. 
This  was  readily  given  ;  they  fired  on  our  horse,  and 
sent  a  boat  to  meet  Champe,  who  was  taken  in  and 
carried  on  board,  and  conveyed  to  New  York  with 
a  letter  from  the  captain  of  the  galley,  stating  the 
past  scene,  all  of  which  he  had  seen. 

"  The  horse  with  his  equipments,  the  sergeant's 
cloak  and  sword  scabbard,  were  recovered  ;  the 
sword  itself,  being  held  by  Champe  till  he  plunged 
into  the  river,  was  lost,  as  Middleton  found  it  neces 
sary  to  retire  without  searching  for  it. 

"  About  three  o'clock  in  the  evening  our  party 
returned,  and  the  soldiers,  seeing  the  horse,  well 
known  to  them,  in  our  possession,  made  the  air  re 
sound  with  exclamations  that  the  scoundrel  was  killed. 

"Major  Lee,  called  by  this  heart  rending  annun 
ciation  from  his  tent,  saw  the  sergeant's  horse  led  by 
one  of  Middleton's  dragoons,  and  began  to  reproach 
himself  with  the  blood  of  the  highly  prized,  faithful. 


APPENDIJX.  475 

and  intrepid  Champe.  Stifling  his  agony,  he  ad 
vanced  to  meet  Middleton,  and  became  somewhat 
relieved  as  soon  as  he  got  near  enough  to  discern  the 
countenance  of  his  officer  and  party.  There  was 
evidence  in  their  looks  of  disappointment,  and  he 
was  quickly  relieved  by  Middleton's  information  that 
the  sergeant  had  effected  his  escape  with  the  loss  of 
his  horse,  and  narrated  the  particulars  just  recited. 

"  Lee's  joy  was  now  as  full,  as  the  moment  before, 
his  torture  had  been  excruciating.  Never  was  a 
happier  conclusion.  The  sergeant  escaped  unhurt, 
carrying  with  him  to  the  enemy  undeniable  testimony 
of  the  sincerity  of  his  desertion, — cancelling  every 
apprehension  before  entertained,  lest  the  enemy  might 
suspect  him  of  being  what  he  really  was. 

"  Major  Lee  imparted  to  the  Commander  in  Chief 
the  occurrence,  who  was  sensibly  affected  by  the 
hair  breadth  escape  of  Champe,  and  anticipated  with 
pleasure  the  good  effect  sure  to  follow  the  enemy's 
knowledge  of  its  manner. 

"  On  the  fourth  day  after  Champe's  departure, 
Lee  received  a  letter  from  him,  written  the  day  be 
fore  in  a  disguised  hand,  without  any  signature,  and 
stating  what  had  passed,  after  he  got  on  board  the 
galley,  where  he  was  kindly  received. 

66  He  was  carried  to  the  commandant  of  New  York 
as  soon  as  he  arrived,  and  presented  the  letter  ad 
dressed  to  this  officer  from  the  captain  of  the  galley. 
Being  asked  to  what  corps  he  belonged,  and  a  few 
other  common  questions,  he  was  sent  under  care  of  an 
orderly  sergeant,  to  the  adjutant  general,  who,  finding 
that  he  was  sergeant  major  of  the  legion  of  horse, 
heretofore  remarkable  for  their  fidelity,  he  began  to 
interrogate  him.  He  was  told  by  Champe,  that  such 
was  the  spirit  of  defection  which  prevailed  among 
the  American  troops  in  consequence  of  Arnold's  ex 
ample,  that  he  had  no  doubt,  if  the  temper  was  pro 
perly  cherished,  Washington's  ranks  would  not  only 
be  greatly  thinned,  but  that  some  of  his  best  corps 


476  APPENDIX. 

would  leave  him.  To  this  conclusion,  the  sergeant 
said,  he  was  led  by  his  own  observations,  and  es 
pecially  by  his  knowledge  of  the  discontents  which 
agitated  the  corps  to  which  he  had  belonged.  His 
size,  place  of  birth,  his  form,  countenance,  color  of 
his  hair,  the  corps  in  which  he  had  served,  with 
other  remarks  in  conformity  to  the  British  usage,  was 
rioted  in  a  large  folio  book.  After  this  was  finished, 
he  was  sent  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  in  charge  of 
one  of  the  staff,  with  a  letter  from  the  adjutant  gen 
eral.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  treated  him  very  kindly, 
and  detained  him  more  than  an  hour,  asking  him 
many  questions,  all  leading, — first  to  know  to  what 
extent  this  spirit  of  defection  might  be  pushed  by 
proper  incitements, — what  were  the  most  operating 
incitements, — whether  any  general  officers  were  sus 
pected  by  Washington  as  concerned  in  Arnold's  con 
spiracy,  or  any  other  officers  of  note ; — who  they 
were,  and  whether  the  troops  approved  or  censured 
Washington's  suspicions, — whether  his  popularity  in 
the  army  was  sinking,  or  continued  stationary.  What- 
was  Major  Andre's  situation, — whether  any  change 
had  taken  place  in  the  manner  of  his  confinement, — 
what  was  the  current  opinion  of  his  probable  fate, — 
and  whether  it  was  thought  Washington  would  treat 
him  as  a  spy.  To  these  various  interrogations,  some 
of  which  were  perplexing,  Champe  answered  warily  ; 
exciting,  nevertheless,  hopes  that  the  adoption  of 
proper  measures  to  encourage  desertion,  of  which  he 
could  not  pretend  to  form  an  opinion,  would  certainly 
bring  off  hundreds  of  the  American  soldiers,  includ 
ing  some  of  the  best  troops,  horse  as  well  as  foot. 
Respecting  the  fate  of  Andre,  he  said  he  was  igno 
rant,  though  there  appeared  to  be  a  general  wish  in, 
the  army  that  his  life  should  not  be  taken  ;  and  that 
he  believed  it  would  depend  more  on  the  disposition 
of  Congress,  than  on  the  will  of  Washington. 

"  After  this  long  conversation  ended,  Sir  Henry 
presented  Champe  with  a  couple  of  guineas,  and  re- 


APPENDIX.  477 

commended  him  to  wait  on  General  Arnold,  who 
was  engaged  in  raising  an  American  legion  in  the 
service  of  his  majesty.  He  directed  one  of  his  aids  to 
write  to  Arnold  by  Champe,  stating  who  he  was,  and 
what  he  had  said  ahout  the  disposition  in  the  army 
to  follow  his  example,  which  was  very  soon  done ; 
it  was  given  to  the  orderly  attending  on  Champe,  to 
be  presented  with  the  deserter  to  General  Arnold. 
Arnold  expressed  much  satisfaction  on  hearing  from 
Champe,  the  manner  of  his  escape,  and  the  effect  of 
Arnold's  example  ;  and  concluded  his  numerous  in 
quiries  by  assigning  quarters  to  the  sergeant, — the 
same  as  were  occupied  by  his  recruiting  sergeants. 

"  He  also  proposed  to  Champe  to  join  his  legion, 
telling  him  he  could  give  to  him  the  same  station  he 
had  held  in  the  rebel  service,  and  promising  fur 
ther  advancement  when  merited.  Expressing  his 
wish  to  retire  from  war,  and  his  conviction  of  the 
certainty  of  his  being  hung  if  ever  taken  by  the  re 
bels,  he  begged  to  be  excused  from  enlistment ; 
assuring  the  general,  that  should  he  change  his  mind, 
he  would  certainly  accept  his  offer.  Retiring  to  the 
assigned  quarters,  Champe  now  turned  his  attention 
to  the  delivery  of  his  letters,  which  he  could  not 
effect  till  the  next  night,  and  then  only  to  one  of  the 
two  incogniti  to  whom  he  was  recommended.  This 
man  received  the  sergeant  with  extreme  attention,  and 
having  read  the  letter,  assured  Champe  that  he  might 
rely  on  his  faithful  co-operation  in  doing  every  thing 
in  his  power  consistently  with  his  safety,  to  guard 
which  required  the  utmost  prudence  and  circum 
spection.  The  sole  object  in  which  the  aid  of  this 
individual  wTas  required,  regarded  the  general  and 
others  of  our  army,  implicated  in  the  information 
sent  to  Washington  by  him.  To  this  object  Champe 
urged  his  attention,  assuring  him  of  the  solicitude  it 
had  excited,  and  telling  him  that  its  speedy  investi 
gation  had  induced  the  general  to  send  him  into 
New  York.  Promising  to  enter  on  it  with  zeal,  and 


478  APPENDIX. 

engaging  to  send  out  Champe's  letters  to  Major  Lee, 
he  fixed  the  time  and  place  for  their  next  meeting, 
when  they  separated. 

"  Lee  made  known  to  the  general  what  had  been 
transmitted  to  him  by  Champe,  and  received  in 
answer  directions  to  press  Champe  to  the  expeditious 
conclusion  of  his  mission,  as  the  fate  of  Andre  would 
be  soon  decided,  when  little  or  no  delay  could  be 
admitted  in  executing  whatever  sentence  the  court 
might  decree.  The  same  messenger  who  brought 
Champe's  letter,  returned  with  the  ordered  commu 
nication.  Five  days  had  nearly  elapsed  after  reach 
ing  New  York,  before  Champe  saw  the  confidant  to 
whom  only  the  attempt  against  Arnold  was  to  be  en 
trusted.  This  person  entered  with  promptitude  into 
the  design,  promising  his  cordial  assistance.  To  pro 
cure  a  proper  associate  to  Champe  was  the  first  object, 
and  this  he  promised  to  do  with  all  possible  despatch. 
Furnishing  a  conveyance  to  Lee  we  again  heard  from 
Champe,  who  stated  what  I  have  related,  with  the 
additional  intelligence  that  he  had  that  morning,  the 
last  of  September,  been  appointed  one  of  Arnold's 
recruiting  sergeants,  having  enlisted  the  day  before 
with  Arnold ;  and  that  he  was  induced  to  take  this 
afflicting  step,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  uninter 
rupted  ingress  and  egress  to  the  house  which  the 
general  occupied,  it  being  indispensable  to  a  speedy 
conclusion  of  the  difficult  enterprize  which  the  in 
formation  he  had  just  received  had  so  forcibly  urged. 
He  added,  that  the  difficulties  in  his  way  were  nume 
rous  and  stubborn,  and  that  his  prospect  of  success 
was  by  no  means  cheering.  With  respect  to  the 
additional  treason,  he  asserted  that  he  had  every 
reason  to  believe  that  it  was  groundless;  that  the 
report  took  its  rise  in  the  enemy's  camp,  and  that 
he  hoped  soon  to  clear  up  this  matter  satisfactorily. 
The  pleasure  which  the  last  part  of  this  communica 
tion  afforded  was  damped  by  the  tidings  it  imparted 
respecting  Arnold,  as  on  his  speedy  delivery  de- 


APPENDIX.  479 

pended  Andre's  relief.  The  interposition  of  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  who  was  extremely  anxious  to  save 
his  much  loved  aid  de  camp,  still  continued  ;  and  it 
was  expected  the  examination  of  witnesses  and  the 
defence  of  the  prisoner,  would  protract  the  decision 
of  the  court  of  inquiry,  now  assembled,  and  give 
sufficient  time  for  the  consummation  of  the  project 
committed  to  Champe.  A  complete  disappointment 
took  place  from  a  quarter  unforeseen,  and  unexpect 
ed.  The  honorable  and  accomplished  Andre,  know 
ing  his  guilt,  disdained  defence,  and  prevented  the 
examination  of  witnesses,  by  confessing  the  character 
in  which  he  stood.  On  the  next  day,  the  2d  of 
October,  the  court  again  assembled,  when  every 
doubt  that  could  possibly  arise  in  the  case  having 
been  removed  by  the  previous  confession,  Andre  was 
declared  to  be  a  spy,  and  condemned  to  suffer  accord 
ingly. 

"The  sentence  was  executed  on  the  subsequent 
day  in  the  usual  form,  the  Commander  in  Chief 
deeming  it  improper  to  interpose  any  delay.  In  this 
decision  he  was  warranted  by  the  very  unpromising 
intelligence  received  from  Champe, — by  the  still  ex 
isting  implication  of  other  officers  in  Arnold's  con 
spiracy, — by  a  due  regard  to  public  opinion, — and 
by  real  tenderness  to  the  condemned. 

"Neither  Congress  nor  the  nation  could  have  been 
with  propriety  informed  of  the  cause  of  the  delay, 
and  without  such  information  it  must  have  excited  in 
both,  alarm  and  suspicion.  Andre  himself  could  not 
have  been  entrusted  with  the  secret,  and  would  con 
sequently  have  attributed  the  unlooked  for  event  to 
the  expostulation  and  exertion  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
which  would  not  fail  to  produce  in  his  breast  expec 
tations  of  ultimate  relief;  to  excite  which  would 
have  been  cruel,  as  the  realization  of  such  expecta 
tion  depended  only  on  a  possible  but  improbable  con 
tingency.  The  fate  of  Andre  hastened  by  himself, 
deprived  the  enterprize  committed  to  Champe  of  a 


480  APPENDIX. 

feature  which  had  been  highly  prized  by  its  projec 
tor,  and  which  had  very  much  engaged  the  heart  of 
the  individual  chosen  to  execute  it. 

"  Washington  ordered  Major  Lee  to  communicate 
what  had  passed  to  the  sergeant,  with  directions  to 
encourage  him  to  prosecute  with  unrelaxed  vigor 
the  remaining  objects  of  his  instructions,  but  to  inter 
mit  haste  in  the  execution  only  so  far  as  was  compati 
ble  with  final  success. 

"This  was  accordingly  done,  by  the  first  oppor 
tunity,  in  the  manner  directed.  Champe  deplored 
the  sad  necessity  which  occured,  and  candidly  con 
fessed  that  the  hope  of  enabling  Washington  to  save 
the  life  of  Andre,  who  had  been  the  subject  of  uni 
versal  commiseration  in  the  American  camp,  greatly 
contributed  to  remove  the  serious  difficulties  which 
opposed  his  acceding  to  the  proposition  when  first 
propounded.  Some  documents  accompanied  this  com 
munication,  tending  to  prove  the  innocence  of  the 
accused  general ;  they  were  completely  satisfactory 
and  did  credit  to  the  discrimination,  zeal  and  diligence 
of  the  sergeant.  Lee  enclosed  them  immediately 
to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  who  was  pleased  to  ex 
press  the  satisfaction  he  derived  from  the  information, 
and  to  order  the  major  to  wait  on  him  the  next  day ; 
when  the  whole  subject  was  reexamined,  and  the 
distrust  heretofore  entertained  of  the  accused  was 
forever  dismissed.*  Nothing  now  remained  to  be 
done  but  the  seizure  and  safe  delivery  of  Arnold. 
To  this  object  Champe  gave  his  undivided  attention; 
and  on  the  19th  October,  Major  Lee  received  from 

*  Copy  of  a  letter  from  General  Washington  to  Major  Lee,  in  his 
own  hand  writing,  dated,  October  23d,  1780. 

DEAR  SIR, — I  am  very  glad  your  letter  of  this  date  has  given  strength 
to  my  conviction  of  the  innocence  of  the  gentleman  who  was  the  sub 
ject  of  your  inquiry.  I  want  to  see  you  on  a  particular  piece  of  busi 
ness.  If  the  day  is  fair,  and  nothing  of  consequence  intervenes,  I  will 
be  at  the  marquis'  quarters  at  ten  o'clock  tomorrow.  If  this  should 
not  happen,  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you  at  head  quarters. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

G.  WASHINGTON. 


APPENDIX.  481 

him  a  very  particular  account  of  the  progress  he  had 
made,  with  the  outlines  of  his  plan.  This  was,  with 
out  delay,  submitted  to  Washington  ;  with  a  request 
for  a  few  additional  guineas.  The  general's  letter* 
written  on  the  same  day,  20th  October,  evinces  his 
attention  to  the  minutiae  of  business,  as  well  as  his 
immutable  determination  to  possess  Arnold  alive,  or 
not  at  all.  This  was  his  original  injunction,  which  he 
never  omitted  to  enforce  on  every  proper  occasion. 

"  Major  Lee  had  an  opportunity,  in  the  course  of 
the  week,  of  writing  to  Champe,  when  he  told  him 
that  the  rewards  which  he  had  promised  to  his  asso 
ciates  would  be  certainly  paid  on  the  delivery  of 
Arnold  ;  and  in  the  mean  time,  small  sums  of  money 
would  be  furnished  for  casual  expenses,  it  being 
deemed  improper  that  he  should  appear  with  much, 
lest  it  might  lead  to  suspicion  and  detection.  That 

*  Copj  of  a  letter  from  General  Washington  to  Major  Lee  in  his  own 
hand  writing.  Head  Quarters,  October  20th,  1780. 

DEAR  Sift, — The  plan  proposed  for  taking;  A. — d,  the  outlines  of 
which  are  communicated  in  your  letter,  which  was  this  moment  put 
into  my  hands  without  date,  has  every  mark  of  a  good  one.  I  there 
fore  agree  to  the  promised  rewards ;  and  have  such  entire  confidence 
in  your  management  of  the  business,  as  to  give  it  my  fullest  approbation  ; 
and  leave  the  whole  to  the  guidance  of  your  own  judgment,  with  this 
express  stipulation  and  pointed  injunction,  that  he,  A — d,  is  brought 
to  me  alive. 

No  circumstance  whatever,  shall  obtain  my  consent  to  his  being  put 
to  death.  The  idea  which  would  accompany  such  an  event,  would  be 
that  ruffians  had  been  hired  to  assassinate  him.  My  aim  is  to  make  a 
public  example  of  him;  and  this  should  be  strongly  impressed  on  those 
who  are  employed  to  bring  him.  off.  The  sergeant  must  be  very  cir 
cumspect  ; — too  much  zeal  may  create  suspicion, — and  too  much  pre 
cipitancy  may  defeat  the  project.  The  most  inviolable  secrecy  must  be 
observed  on  all  hands.  I  send  you  five  guineas  ;  but  I  am  not  satisfied 
of  the  propriety  of  the  sergeant's  appearing  with  much  specie.  This 
circumstance  may  al?o  lead  to  suspicion,  as  it  is  but  too  well  known  to 
the  enemy,  that  we  do  not  abound  in  this  article. 

The  interviews  between  the  party  in  and  out  of  the  city,  should  be 
managed  with  much  caution  and  seeming  indifference  ;  or  else  the 
frequency  of  their  meetings,  &c.  may  betray  the  design,  and  involve 
bad  consequences  ;  but  1  am  persuaded  you  will  place  every  matter  in 
a  proper  point  of  view,  to  the  conductors  of  this  interesting  business, 
and  therefore  I  shall  only  add,  that 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  &c.  &c. 

G.  WASHINGTON. 
61 


482  APPENDIX. 

five  guineas  were  now  sent,  and  that  more  would 
follow  when  absolutely  necessary. 

"  Ten  days  elapsed  before  Champe  brought  his 
measures  to  conclusion,  when  Lee  received  from  him 
his  final  communication,  appointing  the  third  subse 
quent  night  for  a  party  of  dragoons  to  meet  him  at 
Hoboken,  when  he  hoped  to  deliver  Arnold  to  the 
officer.  Champe  had,  from  his  enlistment  into  the 
American  legion,  Arnold's  corps,  every  opportunity 
he  could  wish,  to  attend  to  the  habits  of  the  general. 
He  discovered  that  it  was  his  custom  to  return  home 
about  twelve  every  night,  and  that  previous  to  going 
to  bed  he  always  visited  the  garden.  During  this 
visit  the  conspirators  were  to  seize  him,  and  being 
prepared  with  a  gag,  intended  to  have  applied  the 
same  instantly. 

"  Adjoining  the  house  in  which  Arnold  resided, 
and  in  which  it  was  designed  to  seize  and  gag  him, 
Champe  had  taken  off  several  of  the  palings  and  re 
placed  them,  so  that  with  care  and  without  noise  he 
could  readily  open  his  way  to  the  adjoining  alley. 
Into  this  alley  he  meant  to  have  conveyed  his  pris 
oner,  aided  by  his  companion,  one  of  two  associates 
who  had  been  introduced  by  the  friend  to  whom 
Champe  had  been  originally  made  known  by  letter 
from  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  with  whose  aid 
and  counsel  he  had  so  far  conducted  the  enterprize. 
His  other  associate  was  with  the  boat  prepared  at 
one  of  the  wharves  on  the  Hudson  river,  to  receive 
the  party. 

"  Champe  and  his  friend  intended  to  have  placed 
themselves  each  under  Arnold's  shoulder,  and  to 
have  thus  borne  him  through  the  most  unfrequented 
alleys  and  streets  to  the  boat ;  representing  Arnold, 
in  case  of  being  questioned,  as  a  drunken  soldier 
whom  they  were  conveying  to  the  guard  house. 

"  When  arrived  at  the  boat,  the  difficulties  would 
be  all  surmounted,  there  being  no  danger  nor  obstacle 
in  passing  to  the  Jersey  shore.  These  particulars. 


APPENDIX.  483 

so  soon  as  known  to  Lee,  were  communicated  to  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  who  was  highly  gratified  with 
the  much  desired  intelligence.  He  directed  Major 
Lee  to  meet  Champe,  and  to  take  care  that  Arnold 
should  not  be  hurt.  The  day  arrived,  and  Lee 
with  a  party  of  dragoons  left  camp  late  in  the  even 
ing,  with  three  led  accoutred  horses  ;  one  for  Arnold, 
one  for  the  sergeant,  and  the  third  for  his  associate, 
never  doubting  the  success  of  the  enterprize,  from  the 
tenor  of  the  last  received  communication.  The  party 
reached  Hoboken  about  midnight,  where  they  were 
concealed  in  the  adjoining  wood, — Lee  with  three 
dragoons  stationing  himself  near  the  river  shore. 
Hour  after  hour  passed, — no  boat  approached.  At 
length  the  day  broke  and  the  major  retired  to  his 
party,  and  with  his  led  horses  returned  to  camp, 
when  he  proceeded  to  head  quarters  to  inform  the 
general  of  the  much  lamented  disappointment,  as 
mortifying  as  inexplicable.  Washington  having  pe 
rused  Champe's  plan  and  communication,  had  in 
dulged  the  presumption  that  at  length  the  object  of 
his  keen  and  constant  pursuit  was  sure  of  execution, 
and  did  not  dissemble  the  joy  such  conviction  pro 
duced.  He  was  chagrined  at  the  issue,  and  appre 
hended  that  his  faithful  sergeant  must  have  been  de 
tected  in  the  last  scene  of  his  tedious  and  difficult 
enterprize. 

"  In  a  few  days  Lee  received  an  anonymous  letter 
from  Champe's  patron  and  friend,  informing  him  that 
on  the  day  preceding  the  night  fixed  for  the  execu 
tion  of  the  plot,  Arnold  had  removed  his  quarters  to 
another  part  of  the  town,  to  superintend  the  embark 
ation  of  troops,  preparing,  as  was  rumored,  for  an 
expedition  to  be  directed  by  himself;  and  that  the 
American  legion,  consisting  chiefly  of  American  de 
serters,  had  been  transferred  from  their  barracks  to 
one  of  the  transports ;  it  being  apprehended  that  if 
left  on  shore  till  the  expedition  was  ready,  many  of 
them  might  desert.  Thus  it  happened  that  John 


484  APPENDIX. 

Champe,  instead  of  crossing  the  Hudson  that  night, 
was  safely  deposited  on  board  one  of  the  fleet  of 
transports,  whence  he  never  departed  till  the  troops 
under  Arnold  landed  in  Virginia  !  nor  was  he  able 
to  escape  from  the  British  army  till  after  the  junction 
of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Petersburg,  when  he  deserted, 
and  proceeding  high  up  into  Virginia,  he  passed  into 
North  Carolina,  near  the  Sama  towns,  arid  keeping 
in  the  friendly  districts  of  that  state,  safely  joined 
the  army  soon  after  it  had  passed  the  Congaree  in 
pursuit  of  Lord  Rawdon. 

"  His  appearance  excited  extreme  surprize  among 
his  former  comrades,  which  was  not  a  little  increased 
when  they  saw  the  cordial  reception  he  met  with 
from  the  late  major  now  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee. 
His  whole  story  soon  became  known  to  the  corps, 
which  reproduced  the  love  and  respect  of  oilicer  and 
soldier,  heretofore  invariably  entertained  for  the  ser 
geant,  heightened  by  universal  admiration  of  his  late 
daring  and  arduous  attempt. 

"  Champe  was  introduced  to  General  Greene,  who 
very  cheerfully  complied  with  the  promises  made  by 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  so  far  as  in  his  power ;  and 
having  provided  the  sergeant  with  a  good  horse  and 
money  for  his  journey,  sent  him  to  General  Wash 
ington,  who  munificently  anticipated  every  desire 
of  the  sergeant  and  presented  him  with  his  discharge 
from  further  service,*  lest  he  might  in  the  vicissi 
tudes  of  war,  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands ;  when,  if 
recognized,  he  was  sure  to  die  on  a  gibbet." 

*  When  General  Washington  was  called  by  President  Adams  to  the 
command  of  the  army,  prepared  to  defend  the  country  from  French 
hostility,  he  sent  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Lee,  to  inquire  for  Champe  ; 
being  determined  to  bring  him  into  the  field  at  the  head  of  a  company  of 
infantry. 

Lee  sent  to  London  county,  where  Champe  settled  after  his  dis 
charge  from  the  army  ;  when  he  learned  that  the  gallant  soldier  had 
removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  soon  after  died. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  ISRAEL  PUTNAM. 

THE  life  of  this  patriot  and  hero  has  been  por 
trayed  by  the  able  and  impartial  hand  of  the  late 
General  David  Humphreys,  and  a  brief  sketch, 
chiefly  from  that  work,  must  suffice  for  the  present 
purpose.  General  Putnam  was  born  at  Salem,  Mas 
sachusetts,  on  the  7th  day  of  January,  1718.  He 
was  indebted  to  nature,  more  than  education,  for  a 
vigorous  constitution,  for  mental  endowments,  and 
for  that  undaunted  courage,  and  active  enterprize 
which  were  his  prominent  characteristics.  Much 
confidence  was  reposed  in  his  military  prowess  and 
judgment,  and  he  was  remarkable  for  a  faithful  per 
severance  in  all  the  duties  of  his  station,  and  for  the 
most  undeviating  principles  of  honor,  humanity  and 
benevolence.  In  the  year  1739,  he  removed  to 
Pomfret,  in  Connecticut,  where  he  applied  himself 
to  the  art  of  agriculture.  His  biographer,  as  a  dis 
play  of  character  in  early  life,  has  recorded  an 
instance  of  his  bold  attack  of  a  wolf  while  in  her  den  : 
but  as  the  story  has  been  frequently  promulgated  it 
need  not  be  repeated  in  this  place.  When  in  the 
year  1755,  the  war  between  England  and  France 
broke  out  in  America,  Putnam  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  a  company  of  rangers,  and  was  distin 
guished  for  his  active  services  as  a  parti zan  officer. 
In  1757,  he  was  promoted  to  a  majority,  and  being 
in  a  warm  and  close  engagement,  with  a  party  of 


486  APPENDIX. 

French  and  savages,  he  had  discharged  his  fuzee 
several  times,  when  at  length  it  missed  fire  while  the 
muzzle  was  pressed  against  the  breast  of  a  large  and 
well  proportioned  Indian.  This  adversary,  with  a 
tremendous  war-whoop,  sprang  forward  with  his  lifted 
hatchet  and  compelled  him  to  surrender  ;  and  having 
bound  him  fast  to  a  tree  returned  to  the  battle.  For 
a  considerable  time  the  tree  to  which  Major  Putnam 
was  tied  was  directly  between  the  fires  of  the  two 
parties,  than  which  no  conceivable  situation  could  be 
more  deplorable.  The  balls  flew  incessantly  from 
each  side,  many  struck  the  tree,  while  some  passed 
through  the  sleeves  and  skirts  of  his  coat.  In  this 
state  of  jeopardy,  unable  to  move  his  body,  to  stir 
his  limbs,  or  even  to  incline  his  head,  he  remained 
more  than  an  hour.  So  equally  balanced,  and  so 
obstinate  was  the  fight !  At  one  moment,  while  the 
battle  swerved  in  favor  of  the  enemy,  a  young  savage 
chose  an  odd  way  of  discovering  his  humor.  He 
found  Putnam  bound.  He  might  have  despatched 
him  at  a  blow.  But  he  loved  better  to  excite  the 
terrors  of  the  prisoner  by  hurling  a  tomahawk  at 
his  head,  or  rather  it  should  seem  his  object  was  to 
see  how  near  he  could  throw  it  without  touching 
him. — The  weapon  struck  in  the  tree  a  number  of 
times  at  a  hairs  breadth  from  the  mark.  When  the 
Indian  had  finished  his  amusement,  a  French  bas- 
ofticer,  a  much  more  inveterate  savage  by  nature, 
though  descended  from  so  humane  and  polished  a 
nation,  perceiving  Putnam,,  came  to  him,  and,  level 
ing  a  fuzee  within  a  foot  of  his  breast,  attempted  to 
discharge  it, — it  missed  fire.  Ineffectually  did  the 
intended  victim  solicit  the  treatment  due  to  his  situ 
ation,  by  repeating  that  he  was  a  prisoner  of  war. 
The  degenerate  Frenchman  did  not  understand  the 
language  of  honor  or  of  nature ;  deaf  to  their  voice, 
and  dead  to  sensibility,  he  violently  and  repeatedly 
pushed  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  against  Putnam's  ribs, 
and  finally  gave  him  a  cruel  blow  on  the  jaw  with 


APPENDIX.  487 

the  "butt  end  of  his  piece.     After  this  dastardly  deed 
he  left  him. 

At  length  the  enemy  was  driven  from  the  field  of 
battle,  and  as  they  were  retiring  Putnam  was  untied 
hy  the  Indian  who  had  made  him  prisoner,  and 
whom  he  afterwards  called  master.  Having  been 
conducted  to  some  distance  from  the  place  of  action, 
he  was  stripped  of  his  coat,  vest,  stockings  and  shoes; 
loaded  with  as  many  of  the  packs  of  the  wounded  as 
could  be  piled  on  him,  strongly  pinioned,  and  his  wrists 
tied  as  closely  together  as  they  could  be  pulled  with 
a  cord.  After  he  had  marched  through  no  pleasant 
paths,  in  this  painful  manner,  for  many  a  tedious 
mile,  the  party,  who  were  excessively  fatigued, 
halted  to  breathe.  His  hands  were  now  immoder 
ately  swelled  from  the  tightness  of  the  ligature ;  and 
the  pain  had  become  intolerable.  His  feet  were  so 
much  scratched,  that  the  blood  dropped  fast  from 
them.  Exhausted  with  bearing  a  burden  above  his 
strength,  and  frantic  with  torments  exquisite  beyond 
endurance,  he  entreated  the  Irish  interpreter  to  im 
plore  as  the  last  and  only  grace  he  desired  of  the 
savages,  that  they  would  knock  him  on  the  head  and 
take  his  scalp  at  once,  or  loose  his  hands.  A  French 
officer,  instantly  interposing,  ordered  his  hands  to  be 
unbound,  and  some  of  the  packs  to  be  taken  off.  By 
this  time  the  Indian  who  captured  him  and  had  been 
absent  with  the  wounded,  coming  up,  gave  him  a  pair 
of  moccasons,  and  expressed  great  indignation  at  the 
unworthy  treatment  his  prisoner  had  suffered. 

That  savage  chief  again  returned  to  the  care  of  the 
wounded,  and  the  Indians,  about  two  hundred  in  num 
ber,  \\ent  before  the  rest  of  the  party  to  the  place 
where  the  whole  were  that  night  to  encamp.  They 
took  with  them  Major  Putnam,  on  whom,  besides 
innumerable  other  outrages,  they  had  the  barbarity 
to  inflict  a  deep  wound  with  the  tomahawk  in  the 
left  cheek.  His  sufferings  were  in  this  place  to  be 
consummated.  A  scene  of  horror,  infinitely  greater 


488  APPENDIX:. 

than  had  ever  met  his  eyes  before,  was  now  prepar 
ing.  It  was  determined  to  roast  him  alive.  For  this 
purpose  they  led  him  into  a  dark  forest,  stripped  him 
naked,  bound  him  to  a  tree,  and  piled  dry  brush, 
with  other  fuel,  at  a  small  distance,  in  a  circle  round 
him.  They  accompanied  their  labors,  as  if  for  his 
funeral  dirge,  with  screams  and  sounds,  inimitable 
but  by  savage  voices.  Then  they  set  the  piles  on 
fire.  A  sudden  shower  damped  the  rising  flame. 
Still  they  strove  to  kindle  it,  at  last  the  blaze  ran 
fiercely  round  the  circle.  Major  Putnam  soon  began 
to  feel  the  scorching  heat.  His  hands  were  so  tied 
that  he  could  move  his  body.  He  often  shifted  sides 
as  the  fire  approached.  This  sight,  at  the  very  idea 
of  which,  all  but  savages  must  shudder,  afforded  the 
highest  diversion  to  his  inhuman  tormentors,  who 
demonstrated  the  delirium  of  their  joy  by  corres 
pondent  yells,  dances  and  gesticulations.  He  saw 
clearly  that  his  final  hour  was  inevitably  come.  He 
summoned  all  his  resolution,  and  composed  his  mind, 
so  far  as  the  circumstances  could  admit,  to  bid  an 
eternal  farewell  to  all  he  held  most  dear.  To  quit 
the  world  would  scarcely  have  cost  a  single  pang ; 
but  for  the  idea  of  home,  but  for  the  remembrance 
of  domestic  endearments,  of  the  affectionate  partner 
of  his  soul,  and  of  their  beloved  offspring.  His 
thought  was  ultimately  fixed  on  a  happier  state  of 
existence,  beyond  the  tortures  he  was  beginning  to 
endure.  The  bitterness  of  death,  even  of  that  death 
which  is  accompanied  with  the  keenest  agonies,  was, 
in  a  manner,  past — nature,  with  a  feeble  struggle, 
was  quitting  its  last  hold  on  sublunary  things — when 
a  French  officer  rushed  through  the  crowd,  opened 
a  way  by  scattering  the  burning  brands,  and  un 
bound  the  victim.  It  was  Molang  himself — to  whom 
a  savage,  unwilling  to  see  another  human  victim  im 
molated,  had  run  and  communicated  the  tidings. 
That  commandant  spurned  and  severely  reprimanded 
the  barbarians,  whose  nocturnal  povvwas  and  hellish 


APPENDIX.  489 

orgies  he  suddenly  ended.  Putnam  did  not  want 
for  feeling  or  gratitude.  The  French  commander, 
fearing  to  trust  him  alone  with  them,  remained  till 
he  could  safely  deliver  him  into  the  hands  of  his 
master. 

The  savage  approached  his  prisoner  kindly,  and 
seemed  to  treat  him  with  particular  affection.  He 
offered  him  some  hard  biscuit;  but  finding  that  he 
could  not  chew  them,  on  account  of  the  blow  he  had 
received  from  the  Frenchman,  this  more  humane 
savage  soaked  some  of  the  biscuit  in  water,  and  made 
him  suck  the  pulp-like  part.  Determined,  however, 
not  to  lose  his  captive,  the  refreshment  being  finish 
ed,  he  took  the  moccasons  from  his  feet,  and  tied  them 
to  one  of  his  wrists ;  then  directing  him  to  lie  down 
on  his  back  on  the  bare  ground,  he  stretched  one  arm 
to  its  full  length,  and  bound  it  fast  to  a  young  tree ; 
the  other  arm  was  extended  and  bound  in  the  same 
manner — his  legs  were  stretched  apart,  and  fastened 
to  two  saplings.  Then  a  number  of  tall,  but  slender 
poles  were  cut  down,  which,  with  some  long  bushes, 
were  laid  across  his  body  from  head  to  foot :  on  each 
side  lay  as  many  Indians  as  could  conveniently  find 
lodging,  in  order  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  his 
escape.  In  this  disagreeable  and  painful  posture 
he  remained  till  morning.  During  the  night,  the 
longest  and  most  dreary  conceivable,  our  hero  used  to 
relate  that  he  felt  a  ray  of  cheerfulness  come  casually 
across  his  mind,  and  could  not  even  refrain  from 
smiling  when  he  reflected  on  this  ludicrous  group  for 
a  painter,  of  which  he  himself  was  the  principal  figure. 

The  next  day  he  was  allowed  his  blanket  and 
moccasons,  and  permitted  to  march  without  carrying 
any  pack,  or  receiving  any  insult.  To  allay  his 
extreme  hunger,  a  little  bear's  meat  was  given,  which 
he  sucked  through  his  teeth.  At  night  the  party 
arrived  at  Ticonderoga,  and  the  prisoner  was  placed 
under  the  care  of  a  French  guard.  The  savages, 
who  had  been  prevented  from  glutting  their  diaboli- 


490  APPENDIX. 

cal  thirst  for  blood,  took  this  opportunity  of  manifest 
ing  their  malevolence  for  the  disappointment,  by 
horrid  grimaces  and  angry  gestures  ;  but  they  were 
suffered  no  more  to  offer  violence  or  personal  indig 
nity  to  him. 

After  having  been  examined  by  the  Marquis  de 
Montcalm,  Major  Putnam  was  conducted  to  Mon 
treal  by  a  French  officer,  who  treated  him  with  the 
greatest  indulgence  and  humanity. 

At  this  place  were  several  prisoners.  Colonel 
Peter  Schuyler,  remarkable  for  his  philanthropy, 
generosity  and  friendship,  was  of  the  number.  No 
sooner  had  he  heard  of  Major  Putnam's  arrival,  than 
he  went  to  the  interpreter's  quarters,  and  inquired 
whether  he  had  a  Provincial  major  in  his  custody? 
He  found  Major  Putnam  in  a  comfortless  condition — 
without  coat,  waistcoat,  or  hose — the  remnant  of  his 
clothing  miserably  dirty  and  ragged — his  beard  long 
and  squalid — his  legs  torn  by  thorns  and  briers, — his 
face  gashed  with  wounds  and  swollen  with  bruises. 
Colonel  Schuyler,  irritated  beyond  all  sufferance  at 
such  a  sight,  could  scarcely  restrain  his  speech  within 
limits,  consistent  with  the  prudence  of  a  prisoner,  and 
the  meekness  of  a  Christian.  Major  Putnam  was  im 
mediately  treated  according  to  his  rank,  clothed  in  a 
decent  manner,  and  supplied  with  money  by  this 
liberal  and  sympathetic  patron  of  the  distressed,  and 
by  his  assistance  he  was  soon  after  exchanged. 

In  the  year  1760,  Major  Putnam  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel,  and  served  under 
General  Amherst  in  the  conquest  of  Canada.  He 
embraced  numerous  opportunities  of  achieving  feats 
of  valor,  and  was  particularly  honored  by  his  general 
for  the  promptitude  and  ability  with  which  he  acquit 
ted  himself  of  his  arduous  duty.  "  Colonel  Putnam, 
at  the  expiration  of  ten  years  from  his  first  receiving 
a  commission,  after  having  seen  as  much  service, 
endured  as  many  hardships,  encountered  as  many 
dangers,  and  acquired  as  many  laurels,  as  any  officer 


APPENDIX.  49J 

of  his  rank,  with  great  satisfaction  laid  aside  his  uni 
form  and  returned  to  his  plough."  No  character 
stood  fairer  in  the  public  eye  for  integrity,  bravery 
and  patriotism.  It  was  proverbially  said,  as  well  by 
British  as  Provincial  officers,  that,  in  a  service  of  great 
peril  and  hardship,  from  1755  to  1763,  "he  dared 
to  lead  where  any  dared  to  follow." 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the 
colonies  and  the  mother  country,  Colonel  Putnam,  on 
hearing  of  the  battle  at  Lexington,  left  his  plough  in 
the  middle  of  the  field,  and  without  changing  his 
clothes,  repaired  to  Cambridge,  riding  in  a  single 
day  one  hundred  miles.  He  was  soon  appointed  a 
major  general  in  the  provincial  army,  and  returning 
to  Connecticut  he  made  no  delay  in  bringing  on  a 
body  of  troops.  Not  long  after  his  appointment,  the 
commander  of  the  British  army,  unwilling  that  so 
valuable  an  officer  should  act  in  opposition,  privately 
conveyed  to  him  a  proposal  that  if  he  would  quit  the 
rebel  party,  he  might  rely  on  being  made  a  major 
general  in  the  British  establishment,  and  receiving  a 
great  pecuniary  compensation  for  his  services ;  but  he 
spurned  the  offer.  "On  the  1 6th  of  June,  1775,  it 
was  determined  in  a  council  of  war,  at  which  General 
Putnam  assisted,  that  a  fortified  post  should  be  estab 
lished  at  or  near  Bunker  hill.  General  Putnam 
marched  with  the  first  detachment  and  commenced 
the  work  ; — he  was  the  principal  agent  or  engineer 
who  traced  the  lines  of  the  redoubt,  and  he  continued 
most  if  not  all  the  night  with  the  workmen  :  at  any 
rate  he  was  on  the  spot  before  sunrising  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  had  taken  his  station  on  the  top  of  Bunker 
hill,  and  participated  in  the  danger  as  well  as  the 
glory  of  that  day."* 

*In  the  spring  of  the  year  1818  an  account  of  the  battle  of  Bunker 
hill  was  published  in  the  Port  Folio  by  Henry  Dearborn,  Esq.  major 
general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States,  in  which  he  animadverts  on  the 
conduct  of  General  Putnam  with  great  severity.  To  this  production 
Daniel  Putnam,  Esq.  son  of  the  late  general,  has  published  a  rejoinder, 
from  which  I  have  taken  the  testimonials  which  follow 


492  APPENDIX. 

«#   letter  from   the   Honorable  Judge   Grosvenor,   of 
Pomfret  in  Connecticut. 

"  Being  under  the  command  of  General  Putnam, 
part  of  our  regiment,  and  a  much  larger  number  of 
Massachusetts  troops,  under  Colonel  Preseott,  were 
ordered  to  march  on  the  evening  of  the  16th  of 
June,  1775,  to  Breed's  hill,  where,  under  the  imme 
diate  superintendence  of  General  Putnam,  ground 
was  broken  and  a  redoubt  formed.  On  the  following 
day,  the  17th,  dispositions  were  made  to  deter  the 
advance  of  the  enemy,  as  there  was  reason  to  believe 
an  immediate  attack  was  intended.  General  Putnam 
during  the  period  was  extremely  active,  and  direct 
ed  principally  the  operations.  All  were  animated, 
and  their  general  inspired  confidence  by  his  example. 
The  British  army,  having  made  dispositions  for  land 
ing  at  Morton's  point,  were  covered  by  the  fire  of 
shot  and  shells  from  Copp's  hill  in  Boston,  which  it 
had  opened  on  our  redoubt  early  in  the  morning, 
and  continued  the  greater  part  of  the  day.  At  this 
moment  a  detachment  of  four  lieutenants,  of  which 
I  was  one.  and  one  hundred  and  twelve  men,  selected 
the  preceding  day  from  General  Putnam's  regiment, 
under  Captain  Knowlton,  were  by  the  general,  order 
ed  to  take  post  at  a  rail  fence  on  the  left  of  the  breast 
work  that  ran  north  from  the  redoubt  to  the  bottom 
of  Breed's  hill.  This  order  was  promptly  executed, 
and  our  detachment  in  advancing  to  the  post,  took 
one  rail  fence  and  placed  it  against  another,  as  a 
partial  cover,  nearly  parallel  with  the  line  of  the 
breast  work,  and  extended  our  left  nearly  to  Mystic 
river.  Each  man  was  furnished  with  one  pound  of 
gun  powder  and  forty  eight  baits.  This  am 
munition  was  received,  however,  prior  to  marching 
to  Breed's  hill.  In  this  position  our  detachment  re 
mained  till  a  second  division  of  British  troops  land 
ed,  when  they  commenced  a  fire  of  their  field  artil 
lery  of  several  rounds,  and  particularly  against  the 
rail  fence  ;  then  formed  in  columns,  advanced  to 


APPENDIX.  493 

the  attack,  displayed  in  line  at  about  the  distance 
of  musket  shot,  and  commenced  firing.  At  this 
instantour  whole  line  opened  on  the  enemy,  and  so 
precise  and  fatal  was  our  fire,  that  in  the  course 
of  a  short  time  they  gave  way  and  retired  in  dis 
order  out  of  musket  shot,  leaving  hefore  us  ma  y 
killed  and  wounded.  There  was  but  a  short  respite 
on  the  part  of  the  British,  as  their  lines  were  soon 
filled  up  and  led  against  us,  when  they  were  met  as 
before,  and  forced  back  with  great  loss.  On  rein 
forcements  joining  the  enemy,  they  made  a  direct 
advance  on  the  redoubt,  and  being  successful,  which 
our  brave  Captain  Knowlton  perceiving,  ordered  a 
retreat  of  his  men,  in  which  he  was  sustained  by 
two  companies  under  the  command  of  Captains 
Clark  and  Chester.  The  loss  in  our  detachment  I 
presume  was  nearly  equal.  Of  my  own  immediate 
command  of  thirty  men  and  one  subaltern,  there  were 
eleven  killed  and  wounded ;  among  the  latter  was 
myself,  though  not  so  severely  as  to  prevent  my  re 
tiring.  Jit  the  rail  fence  there  was  not  posted  any 
corps  save  our  oiun,  under  Knowlton,  at  the  time 
the  firing  commenced  ;  nor  did  I  hear  of  any  other 
being  there,  till  long  after  the  action.  Other  troops, 
it  is  said,  were  ordered  to  join  us,  but  refused  doing 
so.  Of  the  officers  on  the  ground,  the  most  active 
within  my  observation  were  General  Putnam,  Colonel 
Prescott,  and  Captain  Knowlton  ;  but  no  doubt  there 
were  many  more,  equally  brave  and  meritorious,  w-ho 
must  naturally  have  escaped  the  eye  of  one  attending 
to  his  own  immediate  command. 

"  Thus  you  have  a  brief  statement  of  my  knowledge 
of  the  action,  without  descending  to  particulars.  To 
conclude,  it  is  matter  of  surprize,  even  of  astonish 
ment  to  me,  my  dear  Sir,  that  I  am  called  on  to  state 
my  opinion  of  the  character  of  your  honored  father, 
General  Putnam,  who  wras  ever  the  first  in  public 
life,  at  the  post  of  honor  and  danger,  and  who,  in 
his  private  conduct,  was  excelled  by  none.  Look  but 


494  APPENDIX. 

at  his  services  in  the  French  and  Indian  wars  from 
1755  to  1763,  and  finally  at  those  of  the  revolution, 
and  you  will  need  no  proof  to  refute  the  calumny  of 
common  defarners. 

With  respect,  I  am,  yours,  truly, 

THOMAS  GKOSVENOK. 
Colonel  Daniel  Putnam" 

The  following  is  a  letter  from  Colonel  John  Trum- 
bull,  of  New  York,  an  officer  of  distinction  in  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  now  a  celebrated  historical 
painter  employed  in  his  profession  by  the  govern 
ment  of  the  United  States,  dated,  New  York,  30th 
of  March,  1818. 

"  In  the  summer  of  1786,  I  became  acquainted  in 
London,  with  Colonel  John  Small,  of  the  British 
army,  who  had  served  in  America  many  jrears,  and 
had  known  General  Putnam  intimately  during  the 
war  of  Canada,  from  1756  to  1763.  From  him,  I 
had  the  two  following  anecdotes  respecting  the  battle 
of  Bunker  hill,  I  shall  nearly  repeat  his  words  : — 
Looking  at  the  picture  which  I  had  then  almost  com 
pleted,  he  said  :  <  I  don't  like  the  situation  in 
which  you  have  placed  my  old  friend  Putnam  ;  you 
have  not  done  him  justice.  I  wish  you  would  alter 
that  part  of  your  picture,  and  introduce  a  circum 
stance  which  actually  happened,  and  which  I  can 
never  forget.  When  the  British  troops  advanced 
the  second  time  to  the  attack  of  the  redoubt,  I  with 
other  officers,  was  in  front  of  the  line  to  encourage 
the  men ;  we  had  advanced  very  near  the  works 
undisturbed,  when  an  irregular  fire,  like  a  feu  de 
joie  was  poured  in  on  us  ;  it  was  cruelly  fatal. 
The  troops  fell  back,  and  when  I  looked  to  the  right 
and  left,  I  saw  not  one  officer  standing  ; — / 
glanced  my  eye  to  the  enemy,  and  saw  several 
young  men  levelling  their  pieces  at  me  ;  I  knew 
their  excellence  as  marksmen,  and  considered  my- 


APPENDIX.  495 

self  gone.  M  this  moment  my  old  friend  Putnam 
rushed  forward,  and  striking  up  the  muzzles  of 
their  pieces  with  his  sword,  cried  out,  '  For  God's 
sake,  my  lads,  don't  fire  at  that  man — I  love  him  as 
I  do  my  brother.'  We  were  so  near  each  other  that 
I  heard  his  words  distinctly.  He  was  obeyed ;  I 
bowed,  thanked  him,  and  walked  away  unmolested.' 

"  The  other  anecdote  relates  to  the  death  of  General 
Warren.  At  the  moment  when  the  troops  succeeded 
in  carrying  the  redoubt  and  the  Americans  were  in 
full  retreat,  General  Howe,  who  had  been  hurt  by  a 
spent  ball  which  bruised  his  ankle,  was  leaning  on  my 
arm.  He  called  suddenly  to  me  :  "  Do  you  see  that 
elegant  young  man  who  has  just  fallen  ?  do  you  know 
him  ?"  I  looked  to  the  spot  to  which  he  pointed — 
6  Good  God,  Sir,  I  believe  it  is  my  friend  Warren.9 
6  Leave  me  then  instantly — run — keep  off  the  troops^ 
save  him  if  possible.' — I  flew  to  the  spot,  '  my  dear 
friend,'  I  said  to  him,  *  I  hope  you  are  not  badly 
hurt :' — he  looked  up,  seemed  to  recollect  me,  smiled 
and  died  !  A  musket  ball  had  passed  through  the 
upper  part  of  his  head.  Colonel  Small  had  the 
character  of  an  honorable,  upright  man,  and  could 
have  no  conceivable  motive  for  deviating  from  truth 
in  relating  these  circumstances  to  me  ;  I  therefore 
believe  them  to  be  true.  You  remember,  my  dear 
Sir,  the  viper  biting  the  file.  The  character  of  your 
father  for  courage,  humanity,  generosity  and  integrity 
is  too  firmly  established,  by  the  testimony  of  those 
who  did  know  him,  to  be  tarnished  by  the  breath  of 
one  who  confesses  that  he  did  not.  Accept,  my  dear 
Sir,  this  feeble  tribute  to  your  father's  memory,  from 
one  who  knew  him,  respected  him,  loved  him — and 
who  wishes  health  and  prosperity  to  you  and  all  the 
good  man's  posterity.  JOHN  TRUMBULL. 

Daniel  Putnam,  Esquire." 

"  I  shall  make  no  comment,"  says  Colonel  Putnam, 
"  on  the  first  anecdote  by  Colonel  Small,  except  that 


496  APPENDIX. 

the  circumstances  were  related  by  General  Putnam, 
without  any  essential  alteration,  soon  after  the  battle  ; 
and  that  there  was  an  interview  of  the  parties  on  the 
lines  between  Prospect  and  Bunker  hiil,  at  the  re 
quest  of  Colonel  Small,  not  long  afterwards." 

It  is  very  apparent  that  General  Washington  re 
posed  great  confidence  in  the  skill  and  judgment  of 
General  Putnam,  or  he  would  not  have  entrusted  him 
with  the  command  of  the  city  of  New  York  at  the 
moment  when  it  was  expected  that  the  whole  of  the 
British  land  and  naval  forces  would  attempt  to  take 
possession  of  that  city.  On  the  29th  of  March,  1776, 
the  Commander  in  Chief  gave  to  General  Putnam  the 
following  orders  and  instructions.  "You  will,  no 
doubt,  make  the  best  despatch  in  getting  to  New 
York  ;  on  your  arrival  there,  you  will  assume  the 
command,  and  immediately  proceed  in  continuing  to 
execute  the  plan  proposed  by  Major  General  Lee, 
for  fortifying  that  city,  and  securing  the  passes  of  the 
East  and  North  rivers.  If,  on  consultation  with  the 
brigadier  generals  and  engineers,  any  alteration  in 
that  plan  is  thought  necessary,  you  are  at  liberty  to 
make  it,  cautiously  avoiding  to  break  in  too  much 
on  his  main  design,  unless  where  it  may  be  apparently 
necessary  so  to  do,  and  that  by  the  general  voice  and 
opinion  of  the  gentlemen  above  mentioned.  You 
will  meet  the  quarter  master  general,  Colonel  Mifflin, 
and  commissary  general,  Colonel  Trumbull,  at  New 
York.  As  these  are  both  men  of  excellent  talents 
in  their  different  departments,  you  will  do  well  to 
give  them  all  the  authority  and  assistance  they  re 
quire  ;  and  should  a  council  of  war  be  necessary,  it 
is  my  direction  that  they  assist  at  it.  Your  long 
service  and  experience,  will,  better  than  my  particu 
lar  directions  at  this  distance,  point  out  to  you  the 
works  most  proper  to  be  first  raised,  and  your  perse 
verance,  activity  and  zeal  will  lead  you  without  jny 
recommending  it,  to  exert  every  nerve  to  disappoint 
the  enemy's  designs."  "  The  faithful  execution  of 


APPENDIX.  497 

the  duties  here  enjoined  were  acknowledged  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief  after  his  arrival  in  New  York, 
and  his  thanks  were  publicly  expressed  in  general 
orders.  Two  days  before  the  battle  of  Flat  Bush, 
in  consequence  of  the  sickness  of  that  excellent  offi 
cer,  Major  General  Greene,  who  had  commanded  on 
Long  Island,  General  Putnam  was  ordered  to  the 
command  of  that  post,  and  assisted  in  the  arduous  and 
complicated  difficulties  of  that  masterly  retreat.  In 
the  memorable  and  distressing  flight  of  the  American 
army  through  New  Jersey,  in  1776,  General  Putnam 
was  always  near — always  the  friend,  the  supporter, 
and  confidant  of  his  beloved  chief ;  and  the  moment 
after  reaching  the  western  bank  of  the  Delaware 
with  the  rear  of  the  army,  he  was  ordered  to  Phila 
delphia  to  fortify  and  defend  that  city  against  a  medi 
tated  attack.  When,  in  the  summer  of  1777,  Fort 
Montgomery  was  captured  by  the  enemy,  and  it  was 
determined  to  erect  another  fortification  on  the  banks 
of  the  Hudson  for  the  defence  of  that  river,  the 
Commander  in  Chief  left  it  wholly  to  the  judgment 
of  General  Putnam  to  fix  on  the  spot,  who  decided 
in  favor  of  West  Point ;  and  as  his  biographer  has 
remarked,  <it  is  no  vulgar  praise  to  say,  that  to  him 
belongs  the  glory  of  having  chosen  this  rock  of  our 
military  salvation.' 

As  an  instance  of  the  decision  of  his  temper,  the 
foHowing  is  deserving  of  notice.  A  man  by  the  name 
of  Nathan  Palmer  was  detected  in  General  Putnam's 
camp,  who  on  trial  was  found  to  be  a  lieutenant  in 
the  tory  new  levies.  Governor  Tryon,  their  com 
mander,  addressed  General  Putnam,  and  reclaimed 
Palmer  as  a  British  officer,  and  threatened  vengeance 
in  case  he  should  be  executed.  This  drew  from  him 
a  reply  in  the  following  laconic  style. 

"  Sir,  Nathan  Palmer,  a  lieutenant  in  your  king's 
service,  was  taken  in  my  camp,  as  a  spy, — he  was 
tried  as  a  spy, — he  was  condemned  as  a  spi/, — and 
63 


498  APPENDIX. 

you  may  rest  assured,  Sir,  that  he  shall  be  hanged  as 
a  spy." 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

ISRAEL  PUTNAM. 
His  Excellency  Governor  Try  on. 

"  P.  S.  Afternoon,  he  is  hanged." 

In  December  1779,  while  on  his  return  from  Con 
necticut  to  head  quarters,  this  venerable  man  was 
attacked  by  a  paralytic  affection,  under  which  he 
languished  till  the  nineteenth  of  May,  1790,  when 
his  honorable  and  use'ful  life  was  brought  to  a  final 
close.  The  qualities  of  his  mind  were  sincerity, 
generosity  and  an  invincible  sense  of  duty.  The 
moral  virtues,  and  duties  of  piety,  and  pure  religion 
were  objects  of  his  serious  reflection,  and  the  late 
Reverend  Dr.  Dwight,  in  his  Travels,  has  eulogiz 
ed  these  as  eminent  traits  in  his  character. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  General  Washington  to  Gen 
eral  Putnam,  dated,  Head  Quarters,  2d  June,  1783. 

"Dear  Sir,— Your  favor  of  the  20th  of  May,  I 
received  with  much  pleasure.  For  I  can  assure  you, 
that,  among  the  many  worthy  and  meritorious  officers 
with  whom  I  have  had  the  happiness  to  be  connected 
in  service  through  the  course  of  this  war,  and  from 
whose  cheerful  assistance  in  the  various  and  trying 
vicissitudes  of  a  complicated  contest,  the  name  of 
Putnam  is  not  forgotten ;  nor  will  it  be,  but  with  that 
stroke  of  time  which  shall  obliterate  from  my  mind 
the  remembrance  of  all  those  toils  and  fatigues  through 
which  we  have  struggled,  for  the  preservation  and 
establishment  of  the  rights,  liberties  and  indepen 
dence  of  our  country.  Your  congratulations  on  the 
happy  prospect  of  peace  and  independent  security, 
with  their  attendant  blessings  to  the  United  States, 
I  receive  with  great  satisfaction ;  and  beg  you  will 
accept  a  return  of  my  gratulations  to  you,  on  this 
auspicious  event — an  event,  in  which,  great  as  it  is 


APPENDIX.  499 

in  itself,  and  glorious  as  it  will  probably  be  in  its 
consequences,  you  have  a  right  to  participate  largely, 
from  the  distinguished  part  you  have  contributed 
towards  its  attainment.  I  anticipate  with  pleasure 
the  day,  and  I  trust  not  far  off,  when  I  shall  quit  the 
busy  scenes  of  military  employment,  and  retire  to 
the  more  tranquil  walks  of  domestic  life.  In  that, 
or  whatever  other  situation  Providence  may  dispose 
of  my  future  days,  the  remembrance  of  the  many 
friendships  and  connexions  I  have  had  the  happi 
ness  to  contract  with  the  gentlemen  of  the  army, 
will  be  one  of  my  most  grateful  reflections. 

"  Under  this  contemplation,  and  impressed  with  the 
sentiments  of  benevolence  and  regard,  I  commend 
you,  my  dear  Sir,  my  other  friends,  and,  with  them, 
the  interests  and  happiness  of  our  dear  country, 
to  the  keeping  and  protection  of  .Almighty  God. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.  &c. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 
To  the  Honorable  Major  General  Putnam." 

The  following  Eulogium  was  pronounced  at  the 
grave  of  General  Putnam  by  Dr.  A.  Waldo. 

"  Those  venerable  relics !  once  delighted  in  the 
endearing  domestic  virtues  which  constitute  the  ex 
cellent  neighbor, — husband, — parent — and  worthy 
brother !  liberal  and  substantial  in  his  friendship  ; — 
unsuspicious — open, — and  generous  ;  just  and  sincere 
in  dealing ;  a  benevolent  citizen  of  the  world — he 
concentrated  in  his  bosom  the  noble  qualities  of  an 
Honest  Man. 

"  Born  a  Hero — whom  nature  taught  and  cherish 
ed  in  the  lap  of  innumerable  toils  and  dangers,  he 
was  terrible  in  battle  !  But,  from  the  amiableness  of 
his  heart — when  carnage  ceased,  his  humanity  spread 
over  the^e/6/,  like  the  refreshing  zephyrs  of  a  sum 
mer's  evening  !  The  prisoner — the  wounded — the 
sick — the  forlorn — experienced  the  delicate  sympa 
thy  of  this  Soldier's  Pillar.  The  poor  and  the 


500  APPENDIX. 

needy  of  every  description,  received  the  charitable 
bounties  of  this  Christian  Soldier. 

"  He  pitied  littleness — loved  goodness — admired 
greatness,  and  ever  aspired  to  its  glorious  summit! 
The  friend,  the  servant,  and  almost  unparalleled  lover 
of  his  country ; — worn  with  honorable  age,  and  the 
former  toils  of  war — Putnam  rests  from  his  labors ! 

"  Till  mouldering  worlds  and  trembling  systems  burst! 
When  the  last  trump  shall  renovate  his  dust — 
Still  by  the  mandate  of  eternal  truth, 
His  soul  will  flourish  in  immortal  youth  !" 

"  This  all  who  knew  him,  know  ;  this  all  who  JovM  him  tell.1' 

Dr.  Dwight  penned  a  very  excellent  inscription, 
which  is  engraved  on  his  tomb,  but  our  narrow  limits 
must  apologize  for  its  omission  in  this  place. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  WILLIAM  HEATH. 

Major  General  William  Heath  was  a  native  of 
Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  and  was  from  his  youth  a 
cultivator  of  the  soil,  which  was  his  favorite  pursuit. 
He  was  not  conversant  with  general  literature,  but 
being  particularly  attached  to  the  study  of  military 
tactics  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  modern  warfare 
in  its  various  branches  and  duties. 

At  an  early  period  of  the  opposition  of  the  colonies 
to  the  unjust  and  oppressive  measures  of  the  British 
ministry,  he  was  an  active  militia  officer,  and  assidu 
ously  engaged  in  organizing  and  disciplining  the 
companies  of  militia  and  minute  men.  In  the  year 
1775,  being  ranked  among  the  patriots  and  advocates 
for  liberty,  he  was  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  com 
missioned  as  a  brigadier  general. 

During  the  siege  of  Boston,  he  was  in  commission 
as  a  general  officer,  but  on  no  occasion  distinguished 


APPENDIX.  501 

for  enterprize  or  important  services.     When  General 
Washington  contemplated  an  attack  on  Boston,  Gen 
eral  Heath  was  offered  the   command  of  a  division, 
but  he  declined  the  hazardous  service.     In  August, 
1776,  he  was  by  Congress  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major  general  in  the  continental  army,  and  in  the 
campaign  of  that  year  he  commanded  a  division  near 
the  enemy's  lines  at  King's  bridge  and  Morrisania. 
During  the  year  1777,  and  till  November,  1778,  he  was 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  eastern  department,  and 
his  head  quarters  were  at  Boston.     Here  devolved 
on  him  the  very  arduous  duties  of  superintendent  of 
the  convention  troops,  captured  with  General  Bur- 
goyne  at   Saratoga,  which  were  quartered  at  Cam 
bridge.     This  station  required  a  character  of  uncom 
mon  firmness  and  decision,  and  had  General  Heath 
been  destitute  of  these  qualities,  he  would  have  been 
subjected  to  the  grossest  impositions  and  indignities, 
from  the  haughty  Generals  Burgoyne  and  Phillips, 
and  the   perverse  temper  of  their  soldiery.     These 
officers,  lofty  in  spirit,  and  of  high  rank  and  character, 
now  chagrined  by  a  state  of  captivity,  occasioned  to 
General  Heath  a  series  of  difficulties  and  vexations. 
He   soon   however,    convinced   them   that   he    was 
neither  deficient  in   spirit,  nor  ignorant  of  his  duty 
as  a  military  commander.     In  all    his  proceedings 
with  these  turbulent  captives,  he  supported  the  au 
thority  of  Congress  and  the  honor  and  dignity  of  the 
command  reposed  in  him ;  and  he  received  the  en 
tire  approbation  of  that  honorable  body,  to  whom  he 
was  amenable  for  his  conduct.     In  the  most  inter 
esting  and  critical  circumstances  in  which  a  general 
could  possibly    be   placed,   he   uniformly    exhibited 
a  prudence,   animation,  decision  and  firmness  which 
have  done  him  honor,  and  fully  justified  the  confi 
dence  reposed  in  him. 

The  cordial  and  most  explicit  approbation  of  the 
army,  the  inhabitants  of  this  town,  the  army  and 
navy  of  our  illustrious  ally,  the  government  of  this 


502  APPENDIX. 

state,  his  Excellency  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and 
of  Congress,  added  to  the  consciousness  of  his  having 
discharged  his  trust  with  fidelity,  must  in  a  great 
measure  have  alleviated  the  fatigues  incident  to  his 
arduous  station,  and  compensated  the  loss  of  his 
health  so  much  impaired  by  an  incessant  attention  to 
business.*  In  June,  1779,  General  Heath  was 
elected  by  Congress  a  commissioner  of  the  Board  of 
War,  with  a  salary  of  four  thousand  dollars  per  annum, 
and  allowed  to  retain  his  rank  in  the  army,  which  he 
declined,  preferring  to  participate  in  active  opera 
tions  in  the  field. 

In  the  summer  of  1780,  he  was  directed  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief  to  repair  to  Rhode  Island  to 
make  arrangements  for  the  reception  of  the  French 
fleet  and  army  which  were  expected  soon  to  arrive. 
In  his  interview  with  the  Count  Rochambeau,  and 
other  officers  of  the  French  army  and  navy,  he 
proffered  his  friendly  civilities  and  contributed  all  in 
his  power  to  their  comfortable  accommodation,  which 
was  productive  of  a  mutual  and  lasting  friendship 
between  them.  Indefatigable  attention  to  duty  in 
the  various  stations  assigned  him,  was  a  prominent 
trait  in  his  character.  In  May,  1781,  General  Heath 
was  directed  by  the  Commander  in  Chief  to  repair 
to  the  New  England  states  to  represent  to  their  re 
spective  executives  the  distressing  condition  of  our 
army,  and  to  solicit  a  speedy  supply  of  provisions  and 
clothing,  in  which  he  was  successful.  As  senior 
major  general,  he  was  more  than  once  commander 
of  the  right  wing  of  our  army,  and  during  the  ab 
sence  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  at  the  siege  of 
Yorktown,  he  was  entrusted  with  the  command  of 
the  main  army  posted  at  the  highlands  and  vicinity, 
to  guard  the  important  works  on  the  Hudson.  On 
the  24th  of  June,  1784,  hostilities  having  ceased  be 
tween  the  two  armies,  General  Washington  addressed 

*  Continental  Journal,  printed  at  Boston,.  November  12th,  177$: 


APPENDIX.  503 

a  letter  to  General  Heath  expressing  his  thanks  for 
his  meritorious  services,  and  his  real  affection  and 
esteem,  and  on  the  same  day  they  took  their  final 
leave. 

General  Heath  was  corpulent  and  bald  headed, 
which  occasioned  some  of  the  French  officers  to  ob 
serve  that  he  resembled  the  Marquis  of  Granby, 
and  he  appeared  always  pleased  with  the  com 
parison.  As  an  officer  of  parade  and  discipline,  he 
was  respectable,  but  for  valorous  achievements  we 
look  in  vain  for  his  laurels.  Had  it  been  his  destiny 
however,  to  encounter  the  perils  of  a  conflict  in  the 
field  of  blood,  no  one  can  say  with  what  adroitness 
he  would  have  played  the  hero. 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  war,  General 
Heath  was  called  again  into  public  service  in  civil 
life,  and  continued  to  hold  a  seat,  either  in  the  legis 
lature,  or  in  the  council  of  Massachusetts,  till  the 
county  of  Norfolk  was  established,  in  1793,  when, 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Hancock,  Judge 
of  Probate,  and  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common. 
Pleas,  the  latter  office  he  did  not  accept.  In  the 
former  he  continued  till  his  death.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  state  convention  which  ratified  the 
federal  constitution.  All  these  offices  he  discharged 
with  assiduity,  affability  and  impartiality,  and  to  the 
general  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

He  had  formed  his  opinion  of  human  nature  on  the 
most  favorable  examples,  and  to  the  close  of  life  had 
a  strong  regard  to  popular  opinion.  He  repeatedly 
allowed  himself  to  be  held  up  and  voted  for,  for 
the  office  of  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor  of 
the  Commonwealth,  and  at  one  period,  had,  no  doubt, 
a  willingness  and  desire  to  hold  one  of  these  offices. 
In  1806,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor.  His 
refusal  of  the  office  was  matter  of  surprize  to  many, 
and  was  by  some  imputed  to  an  unwillingness  to  serve 
with  Governor  Strong ;  while  it  was  well  known  to 
those  most  intimate  with  him,  to  be  owing  to  his  dis- 


504  APPENDIX. 

approbation  of  the  conduct  of  the  legislature  of  that 
year,  in  their  memorable  attempt  to  defeat  the  voice 
of  the  people,  by  setting  aside  Governor  Strong's 
election. 

He  was  more  than  once  an  elector  of  President 
and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States,  and  gave 
his  vote  to  those  who  undertook  to  appropriate  to 
themselves  the  name,  republican,  till  the  election 
preceding  his  death,  when  he  withheld  his  vote  from 
Mr.  Madison,  on  account  of  his  recommending  the 
declaration  of  war  in  1812,  and  sanctioning  the 
measures  which  preceded  and  followed  this  event, 
and  which  caused  the  general  wholly  to  withdraw 
his  confidence  from  that  administration. 

Such  was  General  Heath's  public  life.  His  pri 
vate  one  was  retired  and  domestic,  amiable,  orderly 
and  industrious,  but  not  remarkable  for  hospitality, 
or  a  liberal  appropriation  of  property  to  public  pur 
poses.  He  died,  at  Roxbury,  January  24th,  1814, 
aged  77  years. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  BENJAMIN  LINCOLN. 

General  Lincoln  deserves  a  high  rank  in  the  fra 
ternity  of  American  heroes.  He  was  born  in  Hing- 
"ham,  Massachusetts,  January  23d,  0.  S.  1733.  His 
early  education  was  not  auspicious  to  his  future  emi 
nence,  and  his  vocation  was  that  of  a  farmer,  till  he 
was  more  than  forty  years  of  age,  though  he  was 
commissioned  as  a  magistrate,  and  elected  a  repre 
sentative  in  the  state  legislature.  In  the  year  1775, 
he  sustained  the  office  of  lieutenant  colonel  of  militia, 
and  having  espoused  the  cause  of  his  country  as  a 
firm  and  determined  whig,  he  was  elected  a  member 


APPENDIX.  505 

of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  one  of  the  secretaries 
of  that  body,  and  also  a  member  of  the  committee  of 
correspondence.  In  1776,  he  was  appointed  by  the 
council  of  Massachusetts  a  brigadier,  and  soon  after 
a  major  general,  and  he  applied  himself  assiduously 
to  training,  and  preparing  the  militia  for  actual  service 
in  the  field,  in  which  he  displayed  the  military  talent 
which  he  possessed.  In  October,  he  marched  with  a 
body  of  militia  and  joined  the  main  army  at  New 
York.  The  Commander  in  Chief,  from  a  knowledge 
of  his  character  and  merit,  recommended  him  to 
Congress  as  an  excellent  officer,  and  in  February, 
1777,  he  was  by  that  honorable  body,  created  a 
major  general  on  the  continental  establishment.  For 
several  months  he  commanded  a  division,  or  detach 
ments  in  the  main  army,  under  Washington,  and  was 
in  situations  which  required  the  exercise  of  the  ut 
most  vigilance  and  caution,  as  well  as  firmness  and 
courage.  Having  the  command  of  about  five  hundred 
men  in  an  exposed  situation  near  Bound  Brook, 
through  the  neglect  of  his  patroles,  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy  approached  within  two  hundred  yards  of 
his  quarters  undiscovered  ;  the  general  had  scarcely 
time  to  mount  and  leave  the  house  before  it  was  sur 
rounded.  He  led  off  his  troops  however,  in  the 
face  of  the  enemy,  and  made  good  his  retreat,  though 
with  the  loss  of  about  sixty  men  killed  and  wounded. 
One  of  his  aids  with  the  general's  baggage  and  papers 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  as  did  also  three 
small  pieces  of  artillery.  In  July,  1777,  General 
Washington  selected  him  to  join  the  northern  army 
under  the  command  of  General  Gates,  to  oppose  the 
advance  of  General  Burgoyne.  He  took  his  station 
at  Manchester,  in  Vermont,  to  receive  and  form  the 
New  England  militia,  as  they  arrived,  and  to  order 
their  march  to  the  rear  of  the  British  army.  He 
detached  Colonel  Brown,  with  five  hundred  men  on 
the  13th  of  September  to  the  landing  at  lake  George, 
where  he  succeeded  in  surprizing  the  enemy,  and 


506  APPENDIX. 

took  possession  of  two  hundred  batteaux,  liberated 
one  hundred  American  prisoners,  and  captured  two 
hundred  and  ninety  three  of  the  enemy,  with  the  loss 
of  only  three  killed  and  five  wounded.  This  enter- 
prize  was  of  the  highest  importance,  and  contributed 
essentially  to  the  glorious  event  which  followed. 
Having  detached  two  other  parties  to  the  enemy's 
posts  at  Mount  Independence  and  Skenesho  rough, 
General  Lincoln  united  his  remaining  force  \\ith  the 
army  under  General  Gates,  and  was  the  second  in 
command.  During  the  sanguinary  conflict  on  the 
7th  of  October,  General  Lincoln  commanded  within 
our  lines,  and  at  one  o'clock  the  next  morning,  he 
marched  with  his  division  to  relieve  the  troops  that 
had  been  engaged,  and  to  occupy  the  battle  ground, 
the  enemy  having  retreated.  While  on  this  duty  he 
had  occasion  to  ride  forward  some  distance,  to  re 
connoitre,  and  to  order  some  disposition  of  his  own 
troops,  when  a  party  of  the  enemy  made  an  unex 
pected  movement,  and  he  approached  within  musket 
shot  before  he  was  awrare  of  his  mistake.  A  whole 
volley  of  musketry  was  instantly  discharged  at  him 
and  his  aids,  and  he  received  a  wound  by  which  the 
bones  of  his  leg  were  badly  fractured,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  be  carried  off  the  field.  The  wound  was 
a  formidable  one,  and  the  loss  of  his  limb  was  for 
some  time  apprehended.  He  was  for  several  months 
confined  at  Albany,  and  it  became  necessary  to  re 
move  a  considerable  portion  of  the  main  bone  before 
he  was  conveyed  to  his  house  at  Hingham,  and  un 
der  this  painful  surgical  operation,  the  writer  of  this 
being  present,  witnessed  in  him  a  degree  of  firmness 
and  patience  not  to  be  exceeded.  I  have  known 
him,  says  Colonel  Rice,  who  was  a  member  of  his 
military  family,  during  the  most  painful  operation  by 
the  surgeon,  while  bystanders  were  ft- a.  ;ntly 
obliged  to  leave  the  room,  entertain  us  with  some 
pleasant  anecdote,  or  story,  and  draw  forth  a  smile* 
from  his  friends.  His  wound  continued  several  years 


APPENDIX.  507 

in  an  ulcerated  state,  and  by  the  loss  of  the  bone  the 
limb  was  shortened,  which  occasioned  lameness  dur 
ing  the  remainder  of  his  life.  General  Lincoln  cer 
tainly  afforded  very  important  assistance  in  the  cap 
ture  of  Burgoyne,  though  it  was  his  unfortunate  lot, 
while  in  active  duty,  to  be  disabled  before  he  could 
participate  in  the  capitulation.  Though  his  recov 
ery  was  not  complete,  he  repaired  to  head  quarters 
in  the  following  August,  and  was  joyfully  received 
by  the  Commander  in  Chief,  who  well  knew  how  to 
appreciate  his  merit.  It  was  from  a  development  of 
his  estimable  character  as  a  man,  and  his  talent  as  a 
military  commander,  that  he  was  designated  by  Con 
gress  for  the  arduous  duties  of  the  chief  command  in 
the  southern  department,  under  innumerable  embar 
rassments.  On  his  arrival  at  Charleston,  December, 
1778,  he  found  that  he  had  to  form  an  army,  to  pro 
vide  supplies,  and  to  arrange  the  various  depart 
ments,  that  he  might  be  able  to  cope  with  an  enemy 
consisting  of  experienced  officers  and  veteran  troops. 
This  it  is  obvious,  required  a  man  of  superior  pow 
ers,  indefatigable  perseverance,  and  unconquerable 
energy.  Had  not  these  been  his  inherent  qualities, 
Lincoln  must  have  yielded  to  the  formidable  obstacles 
which  opposed  his  progress.  About  the  28th  of  De 
cember,  General  Prevost  arrived  with  a  fleet,  and 
about  three  thousand  British  troops,  and  took  pos 
session  of  Savannah,  after  routing  a  small  party  of 
Americans,  under  General  Robert  Howe.  General 
Lincoln,  immediately  put  his  troops  in  motion,  and 
took  post  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  riven  about 
twenty  miles  from  the  city ;  but  he  was  not  in  force 
to  commence  offensive  operations,  till  the  last  of 
February.  In  April,  with  the  view  of  covering  the 
upper  part  of  Georgia,  he  marched  to  Augusta, 
after  which  Prevost,  the  British  commander,  crossed 
the  river  into  Carolina  and  marched  for  Charleston. 
General  Lincoln,  therefore,  recrossed  the  Savannah, 
and  followed  his  route,  and  on  his  arrival  near  the 


508  APPENDIX. 

city,  the  enemy  had  retired  from  before  it  during 
the  previous  night.  A  detachment  of  the  enemy, 
supposed  to  he  about  six  hundred  men,  under  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel  Maitland,  being  posted  at  Stone  Ferry, 
where  they  had  erected  works  for  their  defence,  Gen 
eral  Lincoln  resolved  to  attack  them,  which  he  did  on 
the  19th  of  June.  The  contest  lasted  one  hour  and 
twenty  minutes,  in  which  he  lost  one  hundred  and 
sixty  men  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  enemy  suffer 
ed  about  an  equal  loss.  Their  works  were  found  to 
be  much  stronger  than  had  been  represented,  and 
our  artillery  proving  too  light  to  annoy  them,  and 
the  enemy  receiving  a  reinforce  men  t,  our  troops 
were  obliged  to  retire. 

The  next  event  of  importance  which  occurred  with 
our  general,  was  the  bold  assault  on  Savannah,  in 
conjunction  with  the  Count  D'Estaing.  General  Pre- 
vost  had  again  possessed  himself  of  that  city,  and 
Count  D'Estaing,  arrived  with  his  fleet  and  arma 
ment  in  the  beginning  of  September,  1779.  Having 
landed  nearly  three  thousand  French  troops,  Gen 
eral  Lincoln  immediately  united  about  one  thousand 
men  to  his  force.  The  prospect  of  success  was  highly 
flattering,  but  the  enemy  exerted  all  their  efforts  in 
strengthening  their  lines,  and  after  the  count  had 
summoned  the  garrison,  and  while  Prevost  was  about 
to  arrange  articles  of  capitulation,  he  received  a  re 
inforcement.  It  was  now  resolved  to  attempt  the 
place  by  a  regular  siege,  but  various  causes  occasioned 
a  delay  of  several  days,  and  when  it  commenced,  the 
cannonade  and  bombardment  failed  of  producing  the 
desired  effect,  and  the  short  time  allowed  the  count 
on  our  coast,  was  quite  insufficient  for  reducing  the 
garrison  by  regular  approaches.  The  commanders 
concluded  therefore,  to  make  an  effort  on  the  works 
by  assault.  On  the  9th  of  October,  in  theanorning, 
the  troops  were  led  on  by  D'Estaing,  and  Lincoln 
united,  while  a  column  led  by  Count  Dillon  missed 
their  route  in  the  darkness,  and  failed  of  the  intended 


APPENDIX.  509 

eo-operation.  Amidst  a  most  appalling  fire  of  the 
covered  enemy,  the  allied  troops  forced  the  abbatis, 
and  planted  two  standards  on  the  parapets.  But 
being  overpowered  at  the  point  of  attack,  they  were 
compelled  to  retire;  the  French  having  seven  hun 
dred,  the  Americans  two  hundred  and  forty  killed 
and  wounded.  The  Count  Pulaski,  at  the  head  of 
a  body  of  our  horse,  was  mortally  wounded.  Gen 
eral  Lincoln  next  repaired  to  Charleston,  and  en 
deavored  to  put  that  city  in  a  posture  of  defence,  ur- 
geutly  requesting  of  Congress  a  reinforcement  of  reg 
ular  troops,  and  additional  supplies,  which  were  but 
partially  complied  with.  In  February,  1780,  Gen 
eral  Sir  Henry  Clinton  arrived,  and  landed  a  formi 
dable  force  in  the  vicinity,  and  on  the  30th  of  March 
encamped  in  front  of  the  American  lines  at  Charles 
ton.  Considering  the  vast  superiority  of  the  enemy, 
both  in  sea  and  land  forces,  it  might  be  questioned 
whether  prudence  and  correct  judgment,  would  dic 
tate  an  attempt  to  defend  the  city ;  it  will  not  be 
supposed  however,  that  the  determination  wras  form 
ed  without  the  most  mature  deliberation,  and  for 
reasons  perfectly  justifiable.  It  is  well  known  that 
the  general  was  in  continual  expectation  of  an  aug 
mentation  of  strength  by  reinforcements.  On  the 
10th  of  April,  the  enemy  having  made  some  advances, 
summoned  the  garrison  to  an  unconditional  surren 
der,  which  was  promptly  refused.  A  heavy  and 
incessant  cannonade  was  sustained  on  each  side,  till 
the  llth  of  May,  when  the  besiegers  had  completed 
their  third  parallel  line,  and  having  made  a  second 
demand  of  surrender,  a  capitulation  was  agreed  on. 
"  Having  received,"  says  the  general,  "an  ad 
dress  from  the  principal  inhabitants,  and  from  a  num 
ber  of  the  country  militia,  desiring  that  I  would 
accept  the  terms ;  and  a  request  from  the  lieutenant 
governor  and  council,  that  the  negotiation  might  be 
renewed  ;  the  militia  of  the  town  having  thrown 
down  their  arms  ;  our  provisions,  saving  a  little  rice. 


010  APPENDIX. 

being  exhausted ;  the  troops  on  the  line  being  worn 
down  by  fatigue,  having  for  a  number  of  days  been 
obliged  to  lay  on  the  banquette ;  our  harbor  closely 
blocked  up ;  completely  invested  by  land  by  nine 
thousand  men  at  least,  the  flower  of  the  British 
army,  besides  the  large  force  they  could  at  all  times 
draw  from  the  marine,  and  aided  by  a  great  number 
of  blacks  in  their  laborious  employments,  the  garri 
son  at  this  time,  exclusive  of  sailors,  but  little  ex 
ceeding  two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  part  of 
whom  had  thrown  down  their  arms  ;  the  citizens  in 
general  discontented,  the  enemy  being  within  twenty 
yards  of  our  lines,  and  preparing  to  make  a  general 
assault  by  sea  and  land,  many  of  our  cannon  dis 
mounted,  and  others  silenced  for  want  of  shot ;  a 
retreat  being  judged  impracticable,  and  every  hope 
of  timely  succor  cut  off,  we  were  induced  to  offer 
and  accede  to  the  terms  executed  on  the  12th  of 
May."  It  is  to  be  lamented  that,  with  all  the  judi 
cious  and  vigorous  efforts  in  his  power,  General  Lin 
coln  was  requited  only  by  the  frowns  of  fortune, 
whereas  had  he  been  successful  in  his  bold  enterprize 
and  views,  he  would  have  been  crowned  with  un 
fading  laurels.  But  notwithstanding  a  series  of  disap 
pointments  and  unfortunate  occurrences,  he  was  cen 
sured  by  no  one,  nor  was  his  judgment  or  merit  call 
ed  in  question.  He  retained  his  popularity,  and  the 
confidence  of  the  army,  and  was  considered  as  a  most 
zealous  patriot,  and  the  bravest  of  soldiers.  "The 
motives  and  feelings  that  prompted  General  Lincoln 
rather  to  risk  a  siege  than  to  evacuate  Charleston, 
were  most  honorable  to  him  as  a  man  and  a  soldier. 
There  was  such  a  balance  of  reasons  on  the  question, 
as  under  the  existing  circumstances  should  exempt 
his  decision  from  blame  or  distrust.  He  could  not 
calculate  on  the  despondence  and  inactivity  of  the 
people  who  should  come  to  his  succor.  The  sus 
pense  and  anxiety,  the  toil  and  hazard  attending 
the  siege,  gave  the  fullest  scope  to  his  wisdom,  pa- 


APPENDIX.  511 

tience  and  valor.  His  exertions  were  incessant. 
He  was  on  the  lines  night  and  day,  and  for  the  last 
fortnight,  never  undressed  to  sleep.7'*  Notwith 
standing  this  unfortunate  termination  of  his  com 
mand,  so  established  was  the  spotless  reputation  of 
the  vanquished  general,  that  he  continued  to  enjoy 
the  undiminished  respect  and  confidence  of  the  Con 
gress,  the  army,  and  the  Commander  in  Chief,  f 
u  Great  praise  is  due  to  General  Lincoln,"  says  Dr. 
Ramsay,  "  for  his  judicious  and  spirited  conduct  in 
baffling  for  three  months  the  greatly  superior  force 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot. 
Though  Charleston  and  the  southern  army  were 
lost,  yet  by  their  long  protracted  defence,  the  Brit 
ish  plans  were  not  only  retarded  but  deranged,  and 
North  Carolina  was  saved  for  the  remainder  of  the 
year  1780." 

General  Lincoln  was  admitted  to  his  parole,  and 
in  November  following  he  was  exchanged  for  Major 
General  Phillips,  a  prisoner  of  the  convention  of 
Saratoga.  In  the  campaign  of  1781,  General  Lin 
coln  commanded  a  division  under  Washington,  and  at 
the  siege  of  Yorktown  he  had  his  full  share  of  the 
honor  of  that  brilliant  and  auspicious  event.  The 
articles  of  capitulation  stipulated  for  the  same  honor 
in  favor  of  the  surrendering  army,  as  had  been  grant 
ed  to  the  garrison  of  Charleston.  General  Lincoln 
was  appointed  to  conduct  them  to  the  field  where 
their  arms  were  deposited,  and  received  the  cus 
tomary  submission.  In  the  general  order  of  the 
Commander  in  Chief  the  day  after  the  capitulation, 
General  Lincoln  was  among  the  general  officers 
whose  services  were  particularly  mentioned.  In 
October,  1781,  he  was  chosen  by  Congress  secretary 
at  war,  retaining  his  rank  in  the  army.  In  this 

*  Notice  of  General  Lincoln  in  the  collection  of  the  Historical  Society, 
vol.  3d,  second  series,  from  which  I  have  made  other  extracts. 

t  Lee's  memoirs  of  the  war  in  the  southern  department. 


512  APPENDIX. 

office  he  continued  till  October,  1783,  when  his 
proffered  resignation  was  accepted  by  Congress  as 
follows :  "  Resolved  that  the  resignation  of  Major 
General  Lincoln,  as  secretary  of  war  for  the  United 
States,  be  accepted  in  consideration  of  the  earnest 
desire  which  he  expresses,  the  objects  of  the  war 
being  so  happily  accomplished,  to  retire  to  private 
life,  and  that  he  be  in  formed  that  the  United  States 
in  Congress  assembled  entertain  a  high  sense  of  his 
perseverance,  fortitude,  activity  and  meritorious  ser 
vices  in  the  field,  as  well  as  of  his  diligence,  fidelity, 
and  capacity  in  the  execution  of  the  office  of  secreta 
ry  at  war,  which  important  trust  he  has  discharged 
to  their  entire  approbation."  Having  relinquished 
the  duties  and  cares  of  a  public  employment,  he 
retired  and  devoted  his  attention  to  his  farm ;  but  in 
1784,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  commissioners  and 
agents  on  the  part  of  the  state  to  make  and  execute 
a  treaty  with  the  Penobscot  Indians.  When  in  the 
year  1786 — 7,  the  authority  of  our  state  government 
was  in  a  manner  prostrated,  and  the  country  alarmed 
by  a  most  audacious  spirit  of  insurrection  under  the 
guidance  of  Shays  and  Day,  General  Lincoln  was 
appointed  by  the  governor  and  council,  to  command 
a  detachment  of  militia  consisting  of  four  or  five 
thousand  men  to  oppose  their  progress,  and  compel 
them  to  a  submission  to  the  laws.  He  marched  from 
Boston  on  the  20th  of  January,  into  the  counties  of 
Worcester,  Hampshire,  and  Berkshire,  where  the 
insurgents  had  erected  their  standard.  They  were 
embodied  in  considerable  force,  and  manifested  a  de 
termined  resistance,  and  a  slight  skirmish  ensued 
between  them  and  a  party  of  militia  under  General 
Shepherd.  Lincoln  however,  conducted  with  such 
address  and  energy,  that  the  insurgents  were  rout 
ed  from  one  town  to  another,  till  they  were  com 
pletely  dispersed  in  all  directions ;  and  by  his  wise 
and  prudent  measures  the  insurrection  was  happily 
suppressed  without  bloodshed,  excepting  a  few  indi- 


APPENDIX.  513 

vi duals  who  were  slain  under  General  Shepherd's 
command.  At  the  May  election,  1787,  General  Lin 
coln  was  elected  lieutenant  governor  hy  the  legisla 
ture,  having  had  a  pleurality  of  votes  by  the  people. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  for  ratifying  the 
federal  constitution,  and  in  the  summer  of  1789,  he 
received  from  President  Washington  the  appoint 
ment  of  collector  of  the  port  of  Boston,  which  office 
he  sustained  till  being  admonished  by  the  increasing 
infirmities  of  age,  he  requested  permission  to  resign 
about  two  years  before  his  death.  In  1789,  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  to  treat  with  the 
Creek  Indians  on  the  frontiers  of  the  southern  states, 
and  in  1793,  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners  to 
effect  a  peace  with  the  western  Indians.  The  sub 
ject  of  this  memoir  received  from  the  University  of 
Cambridge,  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  a  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  and  he  con 
tributed  by  his  pen  to  the  stock  of  useful  materials 
for  their  respective  publications.  Having  after  his 
resignation  of  the  office  of  collector  passed  about  two 
years  in  retirement,  and  in  tranquillity  of  mind,  but 
experiencing  the  feebleness  of  age,  he  received  a 
short  attack  of  disease  by  which  his  honorable  life 
was  terminated  on  the  9th  of  May,  1810,  aged  77 
years.  The  following  tribute  is  on  the  records  of  the 
society  of  Cincinnati.  "  At  the  annual  meeting  in 
July,  1810,  Major  General  John  Brooks  was  chosen 
President  of  the  society,  to  supply  the  place  of  our 
venerable  and  much  lamented  President,  General 
Benjamin  Lincoln,  who  had  presided  over  the  soci 
ety  from  the  organization  thereof,  in  1783,  to  the  9th 
of  May,  1810,  the  day  of  his  decease,  with  the  entire 
approbation  of  every  member,  and  the  grateful  tri 
bute  of  his  surviving  comrades,  for  his  happy  guidance 
and  affectionate  attentions  during  so  long  a  period." 
General  Lincoln  in  his  very  nature  was  unsusceptible 
65 


514  APPENDIX. 

of  the  spirit  of  envy.     Whoever  achieved  a  noble 
action   to  the  honor  and  advantage  of  his  country, 
whether  as  a  patriot  or  soldier,  was  with  him    the 
man   of  merit,  and  the  theme   of  eulogy,  though  it 
might  eclipse   his  own  fame.     He  was   universally 
respected  as  one  of  the  best  of  men,  of  ardent  patri 
otism,  and  of  heroic  courage.     Major  General  Knox, 
whose  candor,  and  discriminating  judgment   no  one 
will  deny,  was  known  to  estimate  next  to  Washington 
in  military    talents,  Generals  Greene  and  Lincoln. 
Colonel  Nathan  Rice,  a  respectable  officer,  who  was 
a  member  of  his  military  family,   observes,  that  the 
sacrifice  of  as  much  domestic  happiness  as  falls  to  the 
lot  of  men,  to  serve  his  country,  wrould  seem  to  place 
his  patriotism  beyond  suspicion.     The  firmness  and 
zeal  with  which  he  rendered  this  service  during  her 
struggle,  the  coolness  with  which  he  met  danger,  his 
fortitude    under    bodily  pain,    privation  and  disap 
pointment,  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief,   all  strongly  evince    that    his 
country  had  not  misjudged  in  elevating  him  to  the 
distinguished  rank  he  held  in  the   army.     While  at 
Purysburgh,  on  the  Savannah  river,  a  soldier  named 
Fickling,  having  been   detected  in  frequent  attempts 
to   desert,  was    tried  and  sentenced  to  be   hanged. 
The    general    ordered    the    execution.     The    rope 
broke,   a  second  was  procured  which    broke  also  ; 
the  case  was  reported  to  the  general  for  directions. 
"  Let  him  run/*  said  the  general,  "  I  thought  he 
looked  like   a    scape   gallows."*     Regularity   both 

*  Major  Garden,  in  his  Anecdotes  of  the  American  Revolution,  relates 
this  story  with  some  addition.  It  happened  that  as  Fickling  was  led 
to  execution,  the  surgeon  general  of  the  array  passed  accidentally  on 
his  way  to  his  quarter?,  which  were  at  some  distance.  When  the 
second  rope  was  procured  the  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  a  stout  and 
heavy  mun,  assayed  by  every  means  to  break  it,  but  without  effect, 
Fickling  was  then  haltered  and  again  turned  off,  when  to  the  astonish 
ment  of  the  bystanders  the  rope  untwisted  and  he  fell  a  second  time 
uninjured  to  the  ground.  A  cry  for  mercy  was  now  general  throughout 
the  ranks,  which  occasioned  Major  Ladson,  aid  de  camp  to  General 
Lincoln,  to  gallop  to  head  quarters  to  make  a  representation  of  fasts, 


APPENDIX.  515 

in  business  and  his  mode  of  living  were  peculiar 
traits  in  his  character;  habitually  temperate,  and 
accustomed  to  sleep  unconfined  to  time  or  place. 
In  conversation  he  was  always  correct  and  chaste  ;  on 
no  occasion  uttering  any  thing  like  profanity  or  levity 
on  serious  subjects,  and  when  others  have  indulged 
in  these  respects  in  his  presence,  it  was  ever  receiv 
ed  by  him  with  such  marked  disapprobation  of  coun 
tenance,  as  to  draw  from  them  an  instantaneous  apolo 
gy,  and  regret  for  the  offence.  Having  while  collec 
tor,  appointed  a  violent  party  man  to  a  place  of  profit 
merely  from  motives  of  benevolence,  he  had  frequent 
ly,  with  many  others  abused  the  general,  calling  him 
"  a  damned  old  rascal."  On  the  first  opportunity  the 
general  said  to  him,  ((  so  Mr.  — — ,  you  say  I  am  a 
damned  old  rascal,  you  might  have  spared  the  damn 
ed,"  without  adding  a  wrord  more,  but  it  was  ex 
pressed  in  a  manner  that  prevented  a  reply ;  nor 
did  he  remove  him  from  office.  In  the  various  char 
acters  of  parent,  husband  and  master,  I  ever  held 
him  up,  says  Colonel  Rice,  as  a  model  of  perfection. 
The  law  of  kindness  ever  dwelt  on  his  tongue. 


which  were  no  sooner  stated  than  an  immediate  pardon  was  granted, 
accompanied  with  an  order  that  he  should  instantaneously  be  drum 
med,  with  every  mark  of  infamy  out  of  camp,  and  threatened  with  in 
stant  death  if  he  ever  should  he  found  attempting:  to  approach  it.  In 
the  interim  the  surgeon  general  had  established  himself  at  his  quarters 
in  a  distant  barn,  little  doubting  but  that  the  catastrophe  was  at  an 
end,  and  Fielding  quietly  resting  in  his  grave.  Midnight  was  at  hand, 
and  he  was  busily  engaged  in  writing,  when  hearing  the  approach  of  a 
footstep,  he  raised  his  eyes  and  saw  with  astonishment  the  figure  of  the 
man  who  had  in  his  opinion  been  executed,  slowly  and  with  haggard 
countenance  approaching  towards  him.  "  How  !  how  is  this  ?"  ex 
claimed  the  doctor,  "whence  come  you?  what  do  you  want  with  me? 
were  you  not  hanged  this  morning?"  "Yes,  Sir,11  replied  the  resusci 
tated  man,  "  I  am  the  wretch  you  saw  going  to  the  gallows,  and  who  was 
hanged."  "  Keep  your  distance,"  said  the  doctor,  "approach  me 
not  till  you  say  why  you  come  here."  "  Simply,  Sir,"  said  the  supposed 
spectre,  u  to  solicit  food.  I  am  no  ghost,  Doctor.  The  rope  broke 
twice  while  the  executioner  was  doing  his  office,  and  the  general  thought 
proper  to  pardon  me."  "If  that  be  the  case,"  rejoined  the  Doctor, 
"eat  and  be  welcome  ;  but  I  beg  of  yon  in  future  to  have  a  little  more 
consideration,  ard  not  intrude  so  unceremoniously  into  the  apartment 
of  one  who  had  gvery  right  to  suppose  you  an  inhabitant  of  the  tomb.1' 


516  APPENDIX. 

This  memoir  will  be  concluded  by  some  brief  ex 
tracts  from  the  Historical  Collections.  "  In  General 
Lincoln's  character,  strength  and  softness,  the  estima 
ble  and  amiable  qualities,  were  happily  blended.  His 
mind  was  quick  and  active,  yet  discriminating  and 
sound.  He  displayed  a  fund  of  thought  and  infor 
mation  derived  from  select  though  limited  reading, 
from  careful  observation  of  men  and  things,  from 
habits  of  thinking  and  from  conversation.  A  degree 
of  enthusiasm  or  exaltation  of  feeling  on  the  objects 
of  his  pursuit  belonged  to  his  temperament,  but  it 
was  under  the  control  of  good  sense  and  sober  views. 
He  was  patient  and  cool  in  deliberation,  in  execution 
prompt  and  vigorous.  He  was  conspicuous  for  plain, 
strict,  inflexible  integrity,  united  however  with  pru 
dence,  candor,  and  a  compassionate  disposition.  As  a 
military  commander,  he  was  judicious,  brave,  deter 
mined,  indefatigable.  His  distinguished  merit  in 
this  character  was  never  denied,  while  all  have  not 
agreed  in  opinion  on  some  of  his  plans  in  the  southern 
command.  Being  a  soldier  of  the  revolution  he  had 
to  anticipate  the  effect  of  experience,  and  might 
commit  mistakes.  He  was  surrounded  by  difficulties ; 
he  met  extraordinary  disappointments  in  his  calcula 
tions  of  supplies  and  succors.  In  the  principal  in 
stances  which  issued  unfortunately,  the  storming  of 
Savannah  and  the  siege  of  Charleston,  he  had  but  a 
choice  of  evils ;  and  which  ever  way  he  decided,  the 
course  rejected  would  have  seemed  to  many  persons 
more  eligible.  General  Lincoln  was  a  federalist  of 
the  Washington  school.  He  experienced  the  benefit 
of  his  weight  of  character  and  the  sense  entertained 
by  the  community  of  his  public  services,  in  being 
suffered  to  retain  his  office  of  collector. 

"  Religion  exerted  its  full  influence  over  the  mind 
and  conduct  of  General  Lincoln.  He  was  a  Christian 
of  the  Antisectarian,  Catholic,  or  liberal  sect.  He 
was  firm  in  his  faith,  serious  and  affectionate  in  his 
piety,  without  superstition,  fanaticism  or  austerity. 


APPENDIX.  517 

He  was  from  early  manhood  a  communicant^  and  for 
a  great  part  of  his  life  a  deacon  of  the  church.  He 
never  shunned  an  avowal  of  his  belief,  nor  feared 
to  appear  what  he  was,  nor  permitted  the  reality  of 
his  convictions  to  remain  in  doubt.  The  person  and 
air  of  General  Lincoln  betokened  his  military  voca 
tion.  He  was  of  a  middle  height  and  erect,  broad 
chested  and  muscular,  in  his  latter  years  corpulent, 
with  open  intelligent  features,  a  venerable  and  benign 
aspect.  His  manners  were  easy  and  unaffected,  but 
courteous  and  polite. " 

In  all  his  transactions  both  public  and  private  his 
mind  was  elevated  above  all  sordid  or  sinister  views, 
and  our  history  will  not  perhaps  record  many  names 
more  estimable  than  was  that  of  General  Lincoln. 


FREDERICK  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  BARON 
LE  STEUBEN, 

K.MGHT    OF    THE    ORDER    OF    FIDELITY    IN     GERMANY,    ANTD     MAJOR    GENERAL 
IN    THE    ARMY    OF    THE    UNITED    STATES. 

This  highly  distinguished  personage  was  a  Prussian 
officer,  aid  de  camp  to  the  great  Frederick,  and  held 
the  rank  of  lieutenant  general  in  the  army  of  that 
consummate  commander.  He  arrived  in  America 
December,  1777,  and  presented  himself  with  his 
credentials  to  Congress,  proffering  his  services  in  our 
army  without  any  claim  to  rank,  and  requested  per 
mission  only  to  render  such  assistance  as  might  be  in 
his  power,  in  the  character  of  a  volunteer.  In  thus 
devoting  himself  to  our  cause  he  made  an  immense 
sacrifice,  by  relinquishing  his  honorable  station  and 
emoluments  in  Europe.  Congress  voted  him  their 
thanks  for  his  zeal,  and  the  disinterested  tender  of 
his  services,  and  he  joined  the  main  army  under 


518  APPENDIX. 

General  Washington  at  Valley  Forge.     His  qualifica 
tions  for  a  teacher  of  the  system  of  military  tactics 
were  soon  manifested  ;  having  for  many  years   prac 
tised  on  the  system  which   the  king  of  Prussia   had 
introduced  into  his  own  army.     In  May,  1778,  by 
the    strong  recommendation   of  the    Commander  in 
Chief,  Congress  appointed  him  inspector  general  with 
the    rank   of  major  general.      He    commenced    his 
duties  as  inspector,  beginning  with  the  officers,  who 
were  formed  into  separate   bodies,  frequently  exer 
cised   and  instructed  in  the  various  movements  and 
evolutions,  when  manoeuvring  battalions,  brigades,  or 
divisions  of  the  army.     He  exerted  all   his  powers 
for  the  establishment  of  a  regular  system  of  discipline, 
economy  arid  uniformity  among  our  heterogeneous 
bodies  of  soldiers.     In   the  discharge  of  this   duty, 
and  to  effect  his  favorite  object,   he  encountered  ob 
stacles    to  which    a  less  zealous  spirit  would    have 
yielded  as  insurmountable.     By  his  superior  talents, 
indefatigable  industry  and  perseverance,  he  rendered 
a  service  to  our  army,   without  which  it  could  not 
have  attained  to  a  condition  capable  of  achieving 
honor  and  glory  in  the  face  of  European  veteran 
troops.     Charmed  with  the  neat  and  soldierly  appear 
ance  of  those  who  had  profited  by  his  instructions 
and    duly    improved  in    the  art  of  discipline,   and 
equally  detesting  the  soldier  whose    awkward  and 
unmilitary  conduct  betrayed   his  negligence,  there 
never  was  a  review  but  the  Baron  rewarded  the  one 
with    more    than    praise,   and    censured    the    other 
whether  officer  or  soldier,  with  a  severity  equal  to 
his  deserts.    While  reviewing  our  regiment  he  notic 
ed  in  the  ranks  a  very  spruce  young  lad  handsomely 
formed  standing  erect  with  the  air  of  a  genteel  sol 
dier,  his  gun  and  equipments  in  perfect  order.     The 
Baron,  struck  with   his  military  appearance,  patted 
him  under  his  chin  to  elevate  his  head  still  more- 
erect,  viewed  him  with  a  smile,  and  said.  "  how  long 
have  you  been  o  soldier?  you  are  one  pretty  soldier 


APPENDIX.  519 

in  miniature,  how  old  are  you?"  seventeen,  Sir. 
"  Have  you  got  a  wife  ?"  then  calling  to  the  colonel, 
said,  "Colonel  Jackson,  this  is  one  fine  soldier  in  min 
iature." 

The  Baron  composed  a  complete  system  of  ex 
ercise  and  discipline,  which  was  approved  hy  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  and  ordered  hy  Congress  to  be 
published  and  adopted  in  our  army.  Colonel  Wil 
liam  North,  and  Colonel  Walker,  were  aids  de  camp, 
and  members  of  his  family,  between  whom  there  ex 
isted  a  mutual  attachment  and  affection,  pure  as 
parent  and  sons.*"  The  Baron  was  distinguished  for 
his  adherence  to  the  principles  of  political  integrity 
and  moral  virtue.  His  heart  was  replete  with  gen 
erous  sentiments  and  the  purest  benevolence. 

After  General  Arnold  treacherously  deserted  his 
post  at  West  Point,  the  Baron  never  failed  to 
manifest  his  indignation  and  abhorrence  of  his  name 
and  character,  and  while  inspecting  Colonel  Sheldon's 
regiment  of  light  horse,  the  name  of  Arnold  struck 
his  ear.  The  soldier  was  ordered  to  the  front,  he 
was  a  fine  looking  fellow,  his  horse  and  equipments 
in  excellent  order.  "  Change  your  name,  brother 
soldier,  you  are  too  respectable  to  bear  the  name  of 
a  traitor."  u  What  name  shall  I  take,  general  ?" 
"  Take  any  other  name,  mine  is  at  your  service." 
Most  cheerfully  was  the  offer  accepted,  and  his  name 

*  Colonel  North  at  an  early  age  volunteered  his  services  in  the  bold 
and  perilous  enterprize  undertaken  by  General  Arnold  in  the  autumn 
of  1775,  to  penetrate  to  Canada  through  the  unexplored  wilderness 
from  Kennebec,  and  was  among  the  miserable  sufferers  who  appre 
hended  the  horrors  of  death  in  the  wilderness.  When  Colonel  Henry 
Jackson  raised  his  regiment  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts,  this  gentle 
man  was  commissioned  as  commander  of  a  company  in  this  regiment, 
in  which  he  served  with  honor  till  he  was  appointed  aid  de  camp  to 
Baron  Steuben.  By  the  amiable  qualities  of  his  heart,  his  ingratiating 
and  gentlemanly  manners,  he  won  the  affection  of  the  Baron  by  whom 
he  was  treated  with  the  favor  of  an  adopted  son.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  appointed  major  general  of  militia  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  he  has  recently  transferred  his  residence  to  New  Lon 
don,  in  Connecticut.  It  is  chiefly  by  the  aid  of  his  pen  that  I  am  ena 
bled  to  furnish  this  tribute  to  the  memory  of  his  justly  celebrated 
patron. 


520  APPENDIX. 

was  entered  on  the  roll  as  Steuben.  He  or  his 
children  now  enjoy  land  given  to  him  in  the  town  of 
Steuben  by  the  Baron.  This  brave  soldier  met  him 
after  the  war.  "  I  am  well  settled,  general/'  said  he, 
"  and  have  a  wife  and  son,  I  have  called  my  son  after 
you,  Sir."  "  I  thank  you,  my  friend,  what  name 
have  you  given  the  boy  ?"  "  I  called  him  Baron, 
what  else  could  I  call  him  ?" 

The  Baron's  office  as  inspector  did  not  preclude 
him  the  privilege  of  command  in  the  line  according 
to  his  rank,  and  at  one  period  he  was  commander  of 
a  separate  detachment  in  Virginia,  to  oppose  the 
ravages  of  the  enemy  in  that  quarter.  It  wTas  with 
great  difficulty  that  men  could  be  procured  for  the 
service,  every  man  was  considered  as  an  acquisition. 
The  Baron  was  too  honest  to  suffer  an  imposition  to 
be  practised  on  the  public.  A  regiment  had  been 
collected,  and  was  paraded  on  the  point  of  marching, 
when  a  well  looking  man  on  horseback,  and  as  it  ap 
peared  his  servant  on  another,  rode  up  and  informed 
the  Baron  that  he  had  brought  him  a  recruit.  "  I 
thank  you,  Sir,"  said  the  Baron,  "  with  all  my  heart, 
you  have  arrived  in  a  happy  moment,  where  is  your 
man,  Colonel  ?"  for  he  was  colonel  in  the  militia. 
Here,  Sir,  ordering  his  boy  to  dismount.  The 
Baron's  countenance  changed,  his  aids  saw  and  fear 
ed  the  approaching  storm.  A  sergeant  was  ordered 
to  measure  the  lad,  whose  shoes  when  off  discovered 
something  by  which  his  stature  had  been  increased. 
The  Baron  patting  the  child's  head  with  his  hand 
trembling  with  rage,  asked  him  how  old  he  was  ? 
He  was  very  young,  quite  a  child.  6t  Sir,"  said  he 
to  the  militia  colonel,  "  you  must  have  supposed  me  to 
be  a  rascal."  Oh !  no,  Baron,  I  did  not.  "Then,  Sir, 
I  suppose  you  to  be  a  rascal,  an  infamous  rascal  thus 
to  attempt  to  cheat  your  country.  Sergeant,  take 
off  this  fellow's  spurs,  and  place  him  in  the  ranks, 
that  we  may  have  a  man  able  to  serve  instead  of  an 
infant  whom  he  would  basely  have  made  his  substi- 


APPENDIX.  521 

tute  !  Go,  my  boy,  take  the  colonel's  spurs  and  horse 
to  his  wife  ;  make  my  compliments,  and  say,  her 
husband  has  gone  to  fight  for  the  freedom  of  his 
country,  as  an  honest  man  should  do,  and  instantly 
ordered — platoons  !  to  the  right,  wheel  !  forward 
march  !  Colonel  Gaskins,  who  commanded  the  regi 
ment,  fearing  the  consequences,  after  marching  some 
distance,  allowed  the  man  to  escape,  who  immediately 
made  application  to  the  civil  authority  for  redress ; 
but  Governor  Jefferson,  Mr.  Madison  and  others,  not 
doubting  the  purity  of  the  Baron's  motive,  and  fully 
appreciating  his  honest  zeal,  prevented  any  disagreea 
ble  results  attending  this  high  handed  exertion  of  mil 
itary  power.  At  the  siege  of  Yorktown  the  Earon 
was  in  the  trenches  at  the  head  of  his  division,  and 
received  the  first  overture  of  Lord  Cornwallis  to 
capitulate.  At  the  relieving  hour  next  morning,  the 
Marquis  de  la  Fayette  approached  at  the  head  of  his 
division,  to  relieve  him.  The  Baron  refused  to  quit 
the  trenches,  assigning  as  a  reason  the  etiquette  in 
Europe,  that  the  offer  to  capitulate  had  been  made 
during  his  tour  of  duty,  and  that  it  was  a  point  of 
honor  of  which  he  would  not  deprive  his  troops  to 
remain  in  the  trenches  till  the  capitulation  was  signed 
or  hostilities  recommenced.  The  dispute  was  re 
ferred  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  the  Baron 
was  permitted  to  remain  till  the  British  flag  was 
struck.  While  on  this  duty  the  Baron  perceiving 
himself  in  danger  from  a  shell  thrown  from  the  ene 
my,  threw  himself  suddenly  into  the  trench  ;  General 
Wayne  in  the  jeopardy  and  hurry  of  the  moment  fell 
on  him  ;  the  Baron,  turning  his  eyes,  saw  it  was  his 
brigadier,  "  I  always  knew  you  were  brave,  general," 
said  he,  "  but  I  did  not  know  you  were  so  perfect 
in  every  point  of  duty,  you  cover  your  general's 
retreat  in  the  best  manner  possible." 

"  I  have  great  delight,"  says  Major  Garden,   "  in 
relating  an  anecdote  which  I  received  from  General 
Walter  Stewart ;  the  truth  of  which  may  be  relied 
66 


522  APPENDIX. 

on."  After  the  capture  of  Yorktown,  the  supe 
rior  officers  of  the  allied  army,  vied  with  each 
other  in  acts  of  civility  and  attention  to  the  captive 
Britons.  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  family  were  par 
ticularly  distinguished.  Entertainments  were  given 
in  succession  by  all  the  major  generals,  with  the 
exception  of  Baron  Steuben.  He  alone  withheld 
an  invitation,  not  from  a  wish  to  be  particular,  nor 
that  his  heart  was  closed  to  the  attentions  due  to  mis 
fortune.  His  soul  was  superior  to  prejudice  ;  and, 
as  a  soldier,  he  tenderly  sympathized  in  their  fate, 
while  poverty  denied  the  means  of  displaying  that 
liberality  towards  them,  which  had  been  shown  by 
others.  Such  was  his  situation,  when  calling  on  Co 
lonel  Stewart,  and  informing  him  of  his  intention  to 
entertain  the  British  commander  in  chief,  he  re 
quested,  that  he  would  advance  him  a  sum  of  money 
as  the  price  of  his  favorite  charger.  "  ?Tis  a  good 
beast,"  said  the  Baron,  "  and  has  proved  a  faithful 
servant  through  all  the  dangers  of  the  war ;  but, 
though  painful  to  my  heart,  we  must  part."  Colonel 
Stewart,  to  prevent  a  step  that  he  knew  must  be 
attended  with  great  loss,  and  still  greater  incon 
venience,  immediately  tendered  his  purse,  recom 
mending,  should  the  sum  it  contained  prove  insuffi 
cient,  the  sale  or  pledge  of  his  watch.  «  My  dear 
friend,"  said  the  Baron,  "  'tis  already  sold.  Poor 
North  was  sick  and  wanted  necessaries.  He  is  a 
brave  fellow,  and  possesses  the  best  of  hearts.  The 
trifle  it  brought  is  set  apart  for  his  use.  My  horse 
must  go,  so  no  more,  I  beseech  you,  to  turn  me  from 
my  purpose.  I  am  a  major  general  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  and  my  private  convenience 
must  not  be  put  in  the  scale  with  the  duty  which 
my  rank  calls  on  me  imperiously  to  perform. "  A  very 
friendly  intercourse  subsisted  between  the  officers  of 
the  French  army  and  those  of  our  own,  and  dining 
invitations  could  not  always  be  reciprocated  on  our 
part  for  want  of  the  means.  "  I  can  stand  it  no 


APPENDIX,  523 

longer/'  said  the  Baron,  "  we  are  continually  dining 
with  these  gentlemen,  and  such  is  our  penury  that, 
except  at  head  quarters,  they  receive  no  invitations 
in  return — take,  said  he  to  one  of  his  people,  take  the 
silver  spoons  and  forks,  and  sell  them,  it  is  not  repub 
lican  to  eat  with  silver  forks,  and  it  is  the  part  of  a 
gentleman  to  pay  his  debts.  They  shall  have  one  good 
dinner  if  I  eat  my  soup  with  a  wooden  spoon  forever 
after." 

The  Baron  returned  to  the  northward  and  remain 
ed  with  the  army  continually  employed  till  the  peace, 
in  perfecting  its  discipline.  The  adroitness,  and 
above  all,  the  silence  with  which  his  manoeuvres  were 
performed,  was  remarked  with  astonishment  by  the 
officers  of  the  French  army.  The  Marquis  de  la 
val  de  Montmorency,  a  brigadier  general,  said  to  the 
Baron,  "  I  admire  the  celerity  and  exactitude  with 
which  your  men  perform,  but  what  I  cannot  conceive 
is  the  profound  silence  with  which  they  manoeuvre." 
"  I  don't  know,  Monsieur  le  Marquis,  whence  noise 
should  proceed  when  even  my  brigadiers  dare  not 
open  their  mouths  but  to  repeat  the  orders." 

The  French  troops  were  exceedingly  loud  in  their 
evolutions  and  marches,  and  Mons.  la  Val  at  all  times 
louder  than  the  rest.  On  a  subsequent  occasion,  de 
signed  to  show  the  high  degree  of  expertness  at 
which  our  officers  and  soldiers  had  arrived,  the 
Baron  was  asked  by  one  of  the  French  generals,  what 
manoeuvres  he  intended  to  perform.  On  being  in 
formed,  "  Yes,"  replied  the  French  chief,  "  I  have 
seen  particularly  the  last  you  mention  performed 
by  the  Prussians  in  Silesia,  but  with  a  very  complex 
addition,"  which  he  explained.  "But  you  will  re 
collect,  general,  that  we  are  .not  quite  Prussians." 
After  his  guests  had  retired  the  Baron  said,  "  I  will 
let  these  Frenchmen  know  that  we  can  do  what  the 
Prussians  can,  and  what  their  army  cannot  do,  I  will 
save  those  gentlemen  who  have  not  been  in  Silesia 
the  trouble  of  going  there,  they  may  come  to  Ver- 


524  APPENDIX. 

plank's  Point  next  week  for  instruction."  They 
came,  chiefs  and  subalterns^  and  every  thing  was 
done  in  the  finest  style  to  their  real  or  pretended 
admiration.  Here  General  North  indulges  his  hon 
orable  feelings  in  the  following  apostrophe.  "  Alas ! 
when  I  think  of  time  past,  of  that  day,  and  look  to 
that  eminence  on  which  General  Washington's  mar 
quee  was  pitched,  in  front  of  which  stood  that  great 
man  firm  in  the  consciousness  of  virtue,  surrounded 
by  French  nobles  and  the  chiefs  of  his  own  army  ; 
when  I  cast  my  eyes,  then  lighted  up  with  soldierly 
ambition,  hope  and  joy?  along  that  lengthened  line, 
my  brothers  all !  endeared  by  ties  made  strong  by 
full  communion  in  many  a  miserable,  many  a  joyous 
hour,  my  heart  sinks  at  the  view  !  \Vho,  how  few  of 
all  that  brilliant  host,  is  left ;  these  few  are  tottering 
on  the  confines  of  the  grave !  The  Baron's  tent  that 
day  was  filled,  and  more  than  filled  with  French 
men.  "  I  am  glad,"  said  he,  "  to  pay  some  part  of 
the  dinner  debt  we  owe  our  allies."  "  On  the  eve  of 
returning  to  the  northward  from  Virginia,"  con 
tinues  General  North,  i(  I  wag  sick  and  unable  to  ac 
company  the  Baron,  he  divided  his  purse  with  me,  the 
whole  contents  of  which  were  two  half  joes ;  his  watch 
and  silver  spoons  and  forks,  brought  from  Germany, 
were  already  disposed  of.  '  I  must  go,'  said  the 
Baron,  ( I  must  leave  you,  my  son,  but  I  leave  you 
among  a  people  where  we  have  found  the  door  of 
every  house  wide  open ;  where  the  heart  of  every 
female  is  full  of  tenderness  and  virtue.  Quit  this 
deleterious  spot,  the  instant  you  are  able,  there  is  my 
sulkey,  and  here  is  half  of  what  I  have,  God  bless 
you,  I  can  no  more.'  i(  Nor  could  he — the  feelings 
of  friends  in  such  a  moment,  and  under  such  circum 
stances  may  possibly  be  conceived,  but  not  expressed. 
A  journey  of  three  hundred  miles  was  before  him, 
a  single  piece  of  gold  in  his  purse.  Are  other  in 
stances  necessary  to  unfold  the  texture  of  his  heart? 
how  many  have  I  written  on  my  own !  There  is,  I 


APPENDIX.  525 

trust,  a  book,  in  which  they,  every  one  of  them,  are 
entered,  to  the  credit  of  his  account  with  heaven." 

General  Washington  had  a  high  esteem  for  the 
Baron,  and  was  fully  sensible  of  his  worth  and  merits. 
On  all  proper  occasions  Congress  were  urged  in  his 
behalf,  and  from  time  to  time  he  received  of  money, 
good  and  bad,  sums  which  some  narrow  minded 
men  thought  much  too  large,  though  he  proved  satis 
factorily  that  he  had  given  up  a  salary  of  five  hun 
dred  and  eighty  guineas  a  year  in  Europe.  But 
what  sums,  how  much  could  have  been  enough  for 
one  who  searched  around  for  worthy  objects,  whose 
wants  might  be  relieved."  "  Never  did  a  review 
or  an  inspection  pass  without  rewards  in  money, 
to  soldiers  whose  arms  were  in  the  highest  order. 
Never  was  his  table  unfilled  with  guests  if  furnished 
with  provisions.  Officers  of  rank,  men  most  promi 
nent  for  knowledge  and  attention  to  their  duty,  were 
marked  for  invitation  ;  but  the  gentlemen  of  his 
family  were  desired  to  complete  the  list  with  others 
of  inferior  grade  ; — poor  fellows,  said  he,  they  have 
field  officers'  stomachs,  without  their  rations." 

The  Baron  was  rough  as  the  ocean  in  a  storm, 
when  great  faults  were  committed  ;  but  if  in  a  sud 
den  gust  of  passion,  he  had  injured,  the  redress  was 
ample.  I  recollect,  that  at  a  review  near  Morris- 
town,  a  Lieutenant  Gibbons,  a  brave  and  good  officer, 
was  arrested  on  the  spot,  and  ordered  into  the  rear, 
for  a  fault,  which  it  afterwards  appeared  another 
had  committed.  At  a  proper  moment,  the  com 
mander  of  the  regiment  came  forward  and  informed 
the  Baron  of  Mr.  Gibbon's  innocence,  of  his  worth, 
and  of  his  acute  feelings  under  this  unmerited  dis 
grace.  "  Desire  Lieutenant  Gibbons  to  come  to  the 
front,  colonel."  "  Sir,"  said  the  Baron,  to  the 
young  gentleman,  "the  fault  which  was  made,  by 
throwing  the  line  into  confusion,  might,  in  the  pres 
ence  of  an  enemy,  have  been  fatal.  I  arrested  you 
as  its  supposed  author,  but  I  have  reason  to  believe 


526  APPENDIX. 

that  I  was  mistaken,  and  that  in  this  instance  you 
were  blameless;  I  ask  your  pardon  ;  return  to  your 
command — I  would  not  deal  unjustly  by  any,  much 
less  by  one  whose  character  as  an  officer  is  so  re 
spectable/'  All  this  passed  with  the  Baron's  hat 
off,  the  rain  pouring  on  his  venerable  head  ! — Do 
you  think  there  was  an  officer,  a  soldier  who  saw 
it,  unmoved  by  affection  and  respect  ?  Not  one." 

In  the  company  of  ladies,  the  Baron  always  ap 
peared  to  peculiar  advantage.  At  the  house  of  the 
respectable  Mrs.  Livingston,  mother  of  the  late  Chan 
cellor,  where  virtue,  talent  and  modest  worth  of 
every  kind  met  a  welcome  reception,  the  Baron  was 
introduced  to  a  Miss  Sheaf,  an  amiable  and  inter 
esting  young  lady.  "  I  am  very  happy,"  said  he, 
"  in  the  honor  of  being  presented  to  you,  Made 
moiselle,  though  I  see  it  is  at  an  infinite  risk  ;  I  have 
from  my  youth,  been  cautioned  to  guard  myself 
against  mischief,  but  I  had  no  idea  that  her  attrac 
tions  were  so  powerful." 

Dining  at  head  quarters  with  Robert  Morris, 
Esq.  and  other  gentlemen,  Mr.  Morris  complain 
ed  bitterly  of  the  miserable  state  of  the  treasury. 
"  Why,"  said  the  Baron,  "  are  you  not  financier,  why 
do  you  not  continue  to  create  funds  ?"  "  I  have 
done  all  I  can,  it  is  not  possible  for  me  to  do  more." 
"  But  you  remain  financier  though  without  finances  ?" 
"  Yes."  "  Well,  then.  I  do  not  think  you  are  so 
honest  a  man  as  my  cook.  He  came  to  me  one  day 
at  Valley  Forge,  and  said,  "  Baron,  I  am  your  cook, 
and  you  have  nothing  to  cook  but  a  piece  of  lean 
beef,  which  is  hung  up  by  a  string  before  the 
fire.  Your  negro  wagoner  can  turn  the  string  and 
do  as  well  as  I  can,  you  have  promised  me  ten  dol 
lars  a  month,  but  as  you  have  nothing  to  cook  I  wish 
to  be  discharged  and  not  longer  be  chargeable  to 
you.  That  is  an  honest  fellow,  Morris." 

Though  never  perfectly  master  of  our  language, 
the  Baron  understood  and  spoke  it  with  sufficient  cor- 


APPENDIX.  527 

rectness. — He  would  sometimes  on  purpose  miscall 
names,  and  blend  or  adopt  words  similar  in  sound,  dis 
similar  in  meaning.  Dining  at  head  quarters,  which  he 
did  frequently,  Mrs.  Washington  asked  what  amuse 
ment  he  had  recourse  to  now  that  the  certainty  of 
peace  had  relaxed  his  labors?  6  I  read,  my  lady,  and 
write,  and  play  chess,  and  yesterday  for  the  first  time, 
I  went  a  fishing.  My  gentleman  told  me  it  was  a  very 
fine  business  to  catch  fish,  and  I  did  not  know  but 
that  this  new  trade  might,  by  and  by,  be  useful  to 
me — but  I  fear  1  never  can  succeed — I  sat  in  the 
boat  three  hours,  it  was  exceedingly  warm,  and  I 
caught  only  two  fish  ;  they  told  me  it  was  fine  sport.' 
'  What  kind  of  fish  did  you  take,  Baron  ?'  ( I  am 
not  sure,  my  lady,  but  I  believe  one  of  them 
was  a  whale/  <  A  whale,  Baron,  in  the  North 
river  ?'  <  Yes,  I  assure  you,  a  very  fine  whale,  my 
lady; — it  was  a  whale,  was  it  not?'  appealing  to 
one  of  his  aids.  'An  eel,  Baron/  <I  beg  your  par 
don,  my  lady,  but  that  gentleman  certainly  told  me 
it  was  a  whale.'  "  General  Washington,  now  that 
his  mind  was  comparatively  at  ease,  enjoyed  a  pleas 
antry  of  this  kind  highly." 

For  the  proper  understanding  of  the  following 
bon  mot  of  General  Washington,  it  must  be  men 
tioned  that  at  Tatawa  falls  there  was  a  miserable  de 
formed  object,  who  had  lain  in  his  cradle  for  twenty 
seven  years.  His  head  was  eighteen  inches  in  length, 
and  the  rest  of  his  body  twenty  seven  inches.  He 
received  numerous  visitors,  among  whom  was  his 
Excellency,  who  asked  him  whether  he  was  a  whig 
or  tory  ?  He  answered  as  he  had  been  taught, 
that  he  had  never  taken  an  active  part  on  either 
side.*  "  A  worthy  gentleman  and  lady  came  out 
of  New  York  after  the  preliminaries  of  peace  were 
signed,  to  visit  their  friends,  and  resided  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Baron  Steuben,  by  whom  the  whole 

*  See  page  243  of  this  volume. 


528  APPENDIX. 

party,  together  with  his  Excellency  and  lady,  were 
invited  to  dine.  It  is  proper,  said  the  Baron,  that 

your  Excellency  should  be  apprized  that  Mr. 

and  his  lady  from  New  York  are  to  dine  with  me,  and 

perhaps,  Sir,  you  may  not  choose  to  meet  Mr. . 

Oh,  Baron,  said  the  General,  laughing,  there  is  no  dif 
ficulty  on  that  point.  Mr. is  very  like  the  big 

headed  boy  at  Tatawa,  he  never  has  taken  an  active 
part.  This  was  allowed  to  be  a  most  adroit  coup  de 
sabre  by  those  who  knew  the  gentleman,  though  it  is 
doubted  whether  if  he  had  heard  it  he  wTould  have 
felt  the  stroke. 

At  the  disbandment  of  the  revolutionary  army, 
when  inmates  of  the  same  tent,  or  hut,  for  seven  long 
years,  were  separating,  and  probably  forever ;  grasp 
ing  each  other's  hand,  in  silent  agony,  I  saw  the 
Baron's  strong  endeavors  to  throw  some  ray  of  sun 
shine  on  the  gloom,  to  mix  some  drop  of  cordial 
with  the  painful  draught.  To  go,  they  knew  not 
whither ;  all  recollection  of  the  art  to  thrive  by 
civil  occupations  lost,  or  to  the  youthful  never 
known.  Their  hard  earned  military  knowledge 
worse  than  useless,  and  with  their  badge  of  brother 
hood,  a  mark  at  which  to  point  the  finger  of  sus 
picion — ignoble,  vile  suspicion  !  to  be  cast  out  on  a 
world,  long  since  by  them  forgotten. — Severed  from 
friends,  and  all  the  joys  and  griefs  which  soldiers 
feel !  Griefs,  while  hope  remained — when  shared 
by  numbers,  almost  joys !  To  go  in  silence  and 
alone,  and  poor  and  hopeless  ;  it  was  too  hard  !  On 
that  sad  day  how  many  hearts  were  wrung  !  I  saw 
it  all,  nor  will  the  scene  be  ever  blurred  or  blotted 
from  my  view.  To  a  stern  old  officer,  a  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Cochran  from  the  Green  Mountains,  who  had 
met  danger  and  difficulty  almost  in  every  step,  from 
his  youth,  and  from  whose  furrowed  visage,  a  tear 
till  that  moment  had  never  fallen  ;  the  good  Baron 
said — what  could  be  said,  to  lessen  deep  distress  ? 
For  myself,  said  Cochran,  "  I  care  not,  I  can  stand  it : 


APPENDIX.  529 

but  my  wife  and  daughters  are  in  the  garret  of  that 
wretched  tavern.  I  know  not  where  to  remove,  nor 
have  I  means  for  their  removal !"  <  Come,  my  friend/ 
said  the  Baron,  *  let  us  go — I  will  pay  my  respects 
to  Mrs.  Cochran  and  your  daughters,  if  you  please/ 
"  I  followed  to  the  loft,  the  lower  rooms  being  all 
filled  with  soldiers,  with  drunkenness,  despair  and 
blasphemy.  And  when  the  Baron  left  the  poor  un 
happy  cast-aways,  he  left  hope  with  them,  and  all  he 
had  to  give."  "A  black  man,  with  wounds  unheal- 
ed,  wept  on  the  wrharf — (for  it  was  at  Newburgh 
where  this  tragedy  was  acting) — there  was  a  vessel 
in  the  stream,  bound  to  the  place  where  he  once  had 
friends.  He  had  not  a  dollar  to  pay  his  passage, 
and  he  could  not  walk.  Unused  to  tears,  1  saw  them 
trickle  down  this  good  man's  cheeks  as  he  put  into 
the  hands  of  the  black  man  the  last  dollar  he  possessed. 
The  negro  hailed  the  sloop,  and  cried,  <God  Al 
mighty  bless  you,  master  Baron  !? 

What  good  and  honorable  man,  civil  or  military, 
before  the  accursed  party-spirit  murdered  friend 
ships,  did  not  respect  and  love  the  Baron?  Who  most? 
Those  who  knew  him  best.  After  the  peace  the 
Baron  retired  to  a  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York, 
where  with  forming  a  system  for  the  organization  and 
discipline  of  the  militia,  books,  chess  and  the  fre 
quent  visits  of  his  numerous  friends,  he  passed  his 
time  as  agreeably  as  a  frequent  want  of  funds  would 
permit.  The  state  of  New  Jersey  had  given  him  a 
small  improved  farm,  and  the  state  of  New  York  gave 
him  a  tract  of  sixteen  thousand  acres  of  land  in  the 
county  of  Oneida.  After  the  general  government 
was  in  full  operation,  by  the  exertions  of  Colonel 
Hamilton,  patronized  arid  enforced  by  President 
Washington,  a  grant  of  two  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars  per  annum  was  made  to  him  for  life.  The 
summers  were  now  chiefly  spent  on  his  land,  and  his 
winters  in  the  city.  His  sixteen  thousand  acres  of 
land  were  in  the  uncultivated  wilderness  ;  he  built  a 
67 


530  APPENDIX. 

convenient  log  house,  cleared  sixty  acres,  parceled 
out  his  land  on  easy  terms  to  twenty  or  thirty  tenants, 
distributed  nearly  a  tenih  of  the  tract  in  gifts  to  his 
aids  de  camp  and  servants,  and  sat  himself  down  to  a 
certain  degree  contented  without  society,  except 
that  of  a  young  gentleman  who  read  to  and  with  him. 
He  ate  only  at  dinner,  but  he  ate  with  strong  appe 
tite.  In  drinking  he  was  always  temperate,  indeed 
he  was  free  from  every  vicious  habit.  His  powers 
of  mind  and  body  were  strong,  and  he  received  to  a 
certain  extent  a  liberal  education.  His  days  were 
undoubtedly  shortened  by  his  sedentary  mode  of  life. 
He  was  seized  with  an  apoplexy  which  in  a  few  hours 
was  fatal.  Agreeably  to  his  desire  often  expressed, 
he  was  wrapped  in  his  cloak,  placed  in  a  plain  coffin 
and  hid  in  the  earth,  without  a  stone  to  tell  where 
he  lies.  A  few  neighbors,  his  servants,  the  young 
gentleman  his  late  companion,  and  one  on  whom  for 
fifteen  years  his  countenance  never  ceased  to  beam 
with  kindness,  followed  to  the  grave.  It  was  in 
a  thick,  a  lonely  wood,  but  in  a  few  years  after  a 
public  highway  was  opened  near  or  over  the  hal 
lowed  sod  !  Colonel  Walker  snatched  the  poor  re 
mains  of  his  dear  friend  from  sacrilegious  violation, 
and  gave  a  bounty  to  protect  the  grave  in  which  he 
laid  them,  from  rude  and  impious  intrusion.  He 
died  in  1795,  in  the  65th  year  of  his  age. 

"  Some  few  years  previous  to  the  Baron's  death,  a 
pious  gentleman  of  the  city  of  New  York,  who  had 
a  great  affection  for  him,  told  me,  with  strong  marks 
of  joy,  that  they  had  passed  the  evening,  and  a  part 
of  the  last  night  together — that  the  Baron  confessed 
his  full  belief  in  Jesus  Christ,  with  sure  and  certain 
hope,  through  him,  of  a  blessed  immortality.  'From 
the  life  our  dear  friend  has  led,  in  camps  and  in 
the  gay  world/  said  the  good  man,  '  I  feared ;  and 
you  do  not  know  what  joy  I  feel,  in  the  belief  that 
he  will  be  well  to  all  eternity  !'  The  Baron  was  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  German  Church,  in  New 
York.  » 


APPENDIX.  531 

General  North  from  the  impulse  of  his  own  affec 
tionate  and  grateful  feelings,  erected  a  handsome 
monument  with  an  appropriate  inscription  in  the 
Reformed  German  Church  in  New  York  to  the  mem 
ory  of  his  illustrious  patron  and  friend,  and  these 
pages  accord  with  the  views  of  that  memorial  in 
transmitting  to  posterity  a  renowned  hero  whose  name 
and  invaluable  labors  should  never  be  forgotten. 

What  remained  of  the  Baron's  estate,  excepting 
one  thousand  dollars  and  his  library,  which  he  willed 
to  a  youth  whose  father  had  rendered  essential  ser 
vice  in  the  war,  and  whose  education  he  generously 
charged  himself  with,  was  bequeathed  to  his  two  af 
fectionate  aids  de  camps. 


THE  MARQUIS  DE  LA  FAYETTE, 

MAJOR  GENERAL. 

The  name  and  character  of  this  illustrious  French 
nobleman,  will  occupy  a  conspicuous  place  in  our  rev 
olutionary  annals,  and  be  honored  by  posterity  no 
less  for  his  enthusiastic  love  of  liberty,  than  for  his 
heroism  and  military  renown.  There  is  something 
truly  romantic  in  the  history  of  this  celebrated  per 
sonage.  In  the  year  1776,  at  the  immature  age  of 
nineteen,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Americans, 
and  nobly  resolved  to  afford  our  country  all  possible 
assistance  by  his  personal  services  and  influence. 
At  this  era  the  affairs  of  America  were  bordering 
on  despair,  and  were  represented  in  France  as  so  de 
plorable  that  it  might  be  supposed  sufficient  to  re 
press  the  most  determined  zeal.  Reports  were 
propagated  in  that  country  that  our  army,  reduced  to 
a  mere  rabble,  was  flying  before  an  army  of  thirty 
thousand  regulars,  nor  was  this  very  wide  from  the 
reality.  In  consequence  of  this,  our  commissioners 


532  APPENDIX. 

found  it  impossible  to  procure  a  vessel  to  convey  the 
Marquis  and  their  own  despatches  to  Congress ; 
they  could  not  therefore  feel  justified  in  encourag 
ing  his  bold  contemplated  enterprize.  This  em 
barrassment  however,  had  the  effect  of  increasing 
rather  than  of  restraining  his  youthful  ardor  and 
heroism.  He  imparted  to  the  commissioners  his  de 
termination  to  purchase  and  fit  out  a  vessel  to  con 
vey  himself  and  their  despatches  to  America.  This 
project  was  deemed  so  extraordinary  and  important, 
that  it  did  not  fail  to  engage  universal  attention. 
The  French  court  had  not  then  declared  even  a 
friendly  intention  towards  America,  but  on  the  con 
trary  was  extremely  cautious  of  giving  offence  to  the 
British  government.  Orders  were  therefore  given 
prohibiting  the  departure  of  this  noblemaa,  and  ves 
sels  were  even  despatched  to  the  West  Indies  to 
intercept  him,  in  case  he  should  take  that  route. 
The  Marquis  was  well  apprized  that  he  exposed  him 
self  to  the  loss  of  his  fortune  by  the  laws  of  France  ; 
and  that,  should  he  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  English, 
on  his  passage,  he  would  be  liable  to  a  confinement 
of  uncertain  duration,  and  without  a  prospect  of 
being  exchanged.  These  considerations  however, 
did  not  deter  him  from  the  attempt,  and  bidding 
adieu  to  his  amiable  consort  and  numerous  endeared 
connexions,  and  trusting  to  good  fortune  to  favor  his 
elopement,  he  embarked,  and  in  due  time  arrived 
safe  in  Charleston,  in  the  summer  of  1776.  He 
landed  soon  after  the  noble  defence  made  by  General 
Moultrie  at  the  fort  on  Sullivan's  Island.  Charmed 
with  the  gallantry  displayed  by  that  general  and  his 
brave  troops,  the  Marquis  presented  him  with 
clothing,  arms  and  accoutrements  for  one  hundred 
men.  He  met  with  a  cordial  reception  from  our 
Congress,  and  they  immediately  accepted  his  prof 
fered  services.  He  insisted  that  he  would  receive 
no  compensation,  and  that  he  would  commence  his 
services  as  a  volunteer.  This  noble  philanthropist 


APPENDIX.  533 

was  received  into  the  family  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  where  a  strong  mutual  attachment  was  con 
tracted,  and  he  has  often  been  called  the  adopted 
son  of  Washington.  July  31st,  1777,  Congress  re 
solved,  that,  "  Whereas  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  out 
of  his  great  zeal  to  the  cause  of  liberty  in  which  the 
United  States  are  engaged,  has  left  his  family  and  con 
nexions  and  at  his  own  expense  come  over  to  offer 
his  services  to  the  United  States  without  pension  or 
particular  allowance,  and  is  anxious  to  risk  his  life 
in  our  cause — Resolved  that  his  service  be  accepted, 
and  that  in  consideration  of  his  zeal,  illustrious  family 
and  connexions,  he  have  the  rank  and  commission  of 
major  general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States." 
At  the  battle  of  Brandy  wine,  September,  1777,  the 
Marquis  exhibited  full  proof  of  his  undaunted  bravery 
and  military  character,  and  received  a  w-ound  in  his 
leg.  In  May,  1778,  with  a  select  corps  of  two 
thousand  five  hundred  men,  he  crossed  the  Schuyl- 
kill  and  took  post  about  twelve  miles  in  front  of  our 
army  at  Valley  Forge.  A  quaker  in  whose  house  he 
was  to  lodge,  sent  information  to  the  enemy,  who 
formed  an  instantaneous  design  of  surprizing  him. 
General  Gray,  on  the  night  of  the  19th  of  May, 
marched  with  seven  thousand  men,  and  by  a  skilful 
movement  got  into  the  Marquis'  rear,  while  another 
detachment  was  advancing  to  his  front.  The  Mar 
quis  fortunately  gained  intelligence  of  their  approach, 
and  by  a  prompt  decision  effected  his  retreat  and  re- 
crossed  the  river  in  season  to  defeat  the  design  of 
the  enemy.  Had  they  succeeded,  it  must  not  only 
have  proved  fatal  to  the  Marquis  and  his  detachment 
but  placed  the  remainder  of  our  army  in  a  situation 
of  extreme  hazard.  In  August,  1778,  the  Murquis 
repaired  to  Rhode  Island,  to  assist  in  the  expedition 
under  Major  General  Sullivan,  in  conjunction  with 
the  French  fleet,  and  he  received  the  particular  ap 
probation  and  applause  of  Congress,  for  his  judicious 
and  highly  important  services.  In  January,  1779, 


534  APPENDIX. 

the  Marquis  embarked  at  Boston,  on  a  voyage  to 
France,  and  was  subjected  to  imminent  danger  from 
a  conspiracy  among  the  sailors,  a  great  part  of  whom 
were  British.  He  returned  in  May,  1780,  bringing 
the  joyful  intelligence  that  a  French  fleet  and  army 
would  soon  arrive  on  our  coast.  Through  his  great 
zeal  for  the  cause  of  the  United  States,  he  exerted 
his  influence  with  his  government,  no  longer  fearful 
of  giving  offence  to  the  English,  to  afford  money  and 
troops  and  other  important  succors.  He  was  soon 
put  at  the  head  of  a  select  corps  of  light  infantry  for 
the  service  of  the  campaign.  This  afforded  him  a 
new  opportunity  for  the  display  of  his  munificence. 
He  presented  to  every  officer  under  his  command  an 
elegant  sword,  and  his  soldiers  were  clothed  in  uni 
form  principally  at  his  expense.  He  infused  into 
this  corps  a  spirit  of  pride  and  emulation,  viewing  it 
as  one  formed  and  modeled  according  to  his  own 
wishes,  and  as  deserving  his  highest  confidence. 
They  were  the  pride  of  his  heart  and  he  the  idol  of 
their  regard ;  constantly  panting  for  an  opportunity 
of  accomplishing  some  signal  achievement  worthy 
of  his  and  their  character.  This  corps  was  pro 
nounced  equal  to  any  that  could  be  produced  in  any 
country.  In  December,  1780,  he  marched  with  one 
thousand  two  hundred  light  infantry  for  Virginia, 
to  counteract  the  devastations  of  Arnold  and  Phillips. 
He  made  a  forced  march  of  two  hundred  miles  and 
prevented  General  Phillips'  possessing  himself  of 
Richmond,  and  secured  the  stores  of  that  place. 
At  one  period  there  was  not  a  single  pair  of  shoes  in 
his  whole  command,  and  such  was  his  zeal  and  gen 
erous  spirit,  and  such  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
the  people,  that  he  was  enabled  to  borrow  of  the 
merchants  of  Baltimore  two  thousand  guineas  on  his 
own  credit,  with  which  he  purchased  shoes  and  other 
necessary  articles  for  his  troops.  The  Marquis  was 
employed  in  watching  the  motions  of  Lord  Cornwallis 
in  Virginia,  with  an  inferior  force ;  in  this  arduous 


APPENDIX.  535 

duty  he  displayed  the  judgment,  skill  and  prudence 
of  a  veteran,  with  the  ardor  of  youth.  In  a  skirmish 
near  Jamestown,  not  a  man  in  the  whole  detachment 
was  more  exposed,  and  one  of  his  horses  was  killed. 

Lord  Cornwallis  having  encamped  near  Jamestown, 
the  Marquis  La  Fayette  sent  General  Wayne  with 
the  Pennsylvania  troops  to  take  their  station  with 
in  a  small  distance  of  the  British  army  and  watch 
their  motions.  The  two  advanced  parties  were  soon 
engaged,  and  General  Wayne  drove  that  of  the  enemy 
back  to  their  lines,  and  without  stopping  there,  at 
tacked  the  whole  British  army,  drawn  up  in  order  of 
battle  and  charged  them  with  bayonets.  The  action 
was  extremly  severe  for  the  little  time  it  lasted,  but 
the  disproportion  of  numbers  was  so  great  that  the 
enemy  was  on  the  point  of  surrounding  our  troops, 
when  the  Marquis  arrived  in  person,  just  time 
enough  to  order  a  retreat,  by  which  they  were 
rescued  from  their  hazardous  situation,  after  suffer- 
ing  considerable  loss. 

General  Henry  Lee,  in  his  Memoirs  of  the  War  in 
the  Southern  States,  eulogizes  the  character  and  con 
duct  of  La  Fayette,  when  compelled  to  fly  before  the 
British  commander,  in  the  following  language. 

"  In  this  period  of  gloom,  of  disorder  and  of  peril, 
La  Fayette  was  collected  and  undismayed.  With 
zeal,  with  courage,  and  with  sagacity,  he  discharged 
his  arduous  duties ;  and  throughout  his  difficult  re 
treat  was  never  brought  even  to  array  but  once  in 
order  for  battle. — Invigorating  our  councils  by  his 
precepts ;  dispelling  our  despondency  by  his  exam 
ple  ;  and  encouraging  his  troops  to  submit  to  their 
many  privations,  by  the  cheerfulness  with  which  he 
participated  in  their  wants ;  he  imparted  the  energy 
of  his  own  mind  to  the  country,  and  infused  his  high- 
toned  spirit  into  the  army." 

Great  encomiums  were  passed  on  the  Marquis  for 
his  humanity  and  goodness  in  visiting  and  admin 
istering  to  the  relief  of  the  wounded  soldiers.  Lord 


536  APPENDIX. 

Cornwallis  having  received  a  reinforcement,  was  so 
confident  of  success  against  his  young  antagonist, 
that  he  imprudently  said  in  a  letter  which  was  inter 
cepted,  "  the  boy  cannot  escape  me."  He  planned 
the  surprize  of  the  Marquis  while  on  the  same  side 
of  James  river  with  himself,  but  in  this  he  was 
baffled  by  means  of  a  spy,  whom  the  Marquis  sent 
into  the  enemy's  camp  to  obtain  some  necessary  in 
telligence.*  A  combination  of  talents  and  skill  de 
feated  all  the  energies  of  physical  power.  During 
the  siege  of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  the  Mar 
quis  was  among  the  most  active  and  intrepid  of  the 
general  officers,  and  he  commanded  a  detachment  of 
our  light  infantry,  which  successfully  assaulted  the 
British  redoubt  on  the  right  of  our  lines.  Previous 
to  his  departure  from  Yorktown,  he  issued  his  last 
orders  to  his  favorite  corps  of  infantry,  in  which  are 
contained  the  following  expressions. 

"In  the  moment  the  major  general  leaves  this 
place,  he  wishes  once  more  to  express  his  gratitude 
to  the  brave  corps  of  light  infantry,  who  for  nine 
months  past,  have  been  the  companions  of  his  for 
tunes.  He  will  never  forget  that  with  them  alone, 
of  regular  troops,  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  ma 
noeuvre  before  an  army  which  after  all  its  reductions 
is  still  six  times  superior  to  the  regular  force  he  had 
at  that  time." 

The  Marquis  now  perceiving  that  the  mighty 
contest  for  American  Independence,  in  which  he 
had  been  so  nobly  engaged,  was  near  its  completion, 
was  about  to  return  with  the  well  earned  laurels  on 
his  brow  to  his  king  and  country.  Congress  resolved 
November  23d,  1781,  "  that  major  general  the  Mar 
quis  de  la  Fayette  be  informed  that  on  a  review  of 
his  conduct  throughout  the  past  campaign,  and  par 
ticularly  during  the  period  in  which  he  had  the 
chief  command  in  Virginia,  the  many  new  proofs 
which  present  themselves  of  his  zealous  attachment 

*  See  page  359  of  this  volume,  for  further  particulars. 


APPENDIX.  537 

to  the  cause  he  has  espoused  and  of  his  judgment, 
vigilance,  gallantry  and  address  in  its  defence,  have 
greatly  added  to  the  high  opinion  entertained  by 
Congress  of  his  merit  and  military  talents."  Dur 
ing  his  military  career  in  America,  the  Marquis 
displayed  that  patriotism,  integrity,  humanity,  and 
every  other  virtue  which  characterize  real  greatness 
of  soul.  His  manners  being  easy,  affable  and  en 
gaging,  he  was  particularly  endeared  to  the  officers 
and  soldiers  under  his  command ;  they  admired, 
loved,  and  revered  him  as  their  guide  and  support 
when  in  peril,  and  their  warmest  friend  when  in 
perplexity  and  trouble.  The  most  affectionate  at 
tachment  subsisted  between  him  and  the  illustrious 
Chief  under  whose  banners  it  was  his  delight  to  serve, 
and  whose  language  was,  "  this  nobleman  unites  to 
all  the  military  fire  of  youth,  an  uncommon  maturity 
of  judgment." 

His  very  soul  burned  with  the  spirit  of  enterprize, 
and  he  manifested  a  disinterestedness  and  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  freedom,  ever  to  be  admired  and  ap 
plauded  by  a  grateful  people.  He  ever  discovered 
both  in  design  and  execution  those  traits  of  genius, 
and  that  intuitive  knowledge  of  tactics,  which  desig 
nate  the  great  man,  and  the  successful  warrior. 
The  people  of  the  United  States  are  fully  apprized 
of  their  high  obligations  to  him,  and  their  history 
will  transmit  the  name  of  La  Fayette  with  grateful 
acknowledgments  to  the  latest  posterity.  It  is  grati 
fying  to  learn  that  Congress  granted  him  a  valuable 
tract  of  land,  as  a  compensation  in  part  for  his  disin 
terested  patriotism  and  important  services. 

When  in  December,  1784,  the  Marquis  was  about 
to  take  his  final  departure  from  America,  Congress 
appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  one  member 
from  each  state  to  receive  him,  and  in  the  name  of 
Congress  to  take  leave  of  him  in  such  manner  as  might 
strongly  manifest  their  esteem  and  regard  for  him. 
That  they  be  instructed  to  assure  him,  that  Congress 
68 


538  APPENDIX. 

continue  to  entertain  the  same  high  sense  of  his- 
abilities  and  zeal  to  promote  the  welfare  of  x\m  erica, 
both  here  and  in  Europe,  which  they  have  frequently 
expressed  and  manifested  on  former  occasions.  That 
the  United  States  regard  him  with  particular  affec 
tion,  and  will  not  cease  to  feel  an  interest  in  what 
ever  may  concern  his  honor  and  prosperity,  and  that 
their  best  and  kindest  wishes  will  always  attend  him. 
Congress  resolved  also  that  a  letter  be  written  to  his 
Most  Christian  Majesty  expressive  of  the  high  sense 
which  the  United  States,  in  Congress  assembled,  en 
tertain  of  the  zeal,  talents  and  meritorious  services 
of  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  and  recommending 
him  to  the  favor  and  patronage  of  his  majesty.  The 
Marquis  made  a  very  respectful  and  affectionate  re 
ply,  in  which  he  expressed  the  lively  feelings  of  a 
heart  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  our  rising  empire, 
and  gratefully  acknowledged  that  at  a  time  when 
an  inexperienced  youth,  he  was  favored  with  his 
respected  friend's  paternal  adoption.  He  thus  con 
cludes  his  address.  "  May  this  immense  temple  of 
freedom  ever  stand  as  a  lesson  to  oppressors,  an  ex 
ample  to  the  oppressed,  a  sanctuary  for  the  rights 
of  mankind  ;  and  may  these  happy  United  States 
attain  that  complete  splendor  and  prosperity  which 
will  illustrate  the  blessings  of  their  government,  and 
for  ages  to  come  rejoice  the  departed  souls  of  its 
founders.  Never  can  Congress  oblige  me  so  much 
as  when  they  put  it  in  my  power  in  every  part  of 
the  world  to  the  latest  day  of  my  life  to  gratify  the 
attachment  which  will  ever  rank  me  among  the 
most  zealous  and  respectful  servants  of  the  United 
States." 


.APPENDIX.  539 


MAJOR  GENERAL  HORATIO  GATES 

General  Gates  was  a  native  of  England,  and  was 
educated  to  the  military  profession.  He  was  an  offi 
cer  under  the  unfortunate  Braddock,  in  the  expedi 
tion  against  Fort  du  Quesne,  in  the  year  1755,  and 
who  after  receiving  a  dangerous  wound,  was  with  the 
illustrious  Washington,  among  the  few  officers  who 
escaped  with  life  on  that  memorable  occasion.  When 
the  American  colonies  were  forced  to  assume  a  hos 
tile  attitude,  Gates  had  been  for  some  time  a  resident 
in  Virginia,  and  having  evinced  his  zeal  and  attach 
ment  to  the  violated  rights  of  his  adopted  country, 
and  sustaining  a  high  military  reputation,  he  was  by 
Congress  appointed  adjutant  general,  with  the  rank 
of  brigadier,  and  he  accompanied  General  Washing 
ton  to  our  camp  at  Cambridge,  in  July,  1775.  On 
the  retreat  of  our  forces  from  Canada,  the  chief  com 
mand  in  that  department  was  conferred  on  him  in 
June,  1776.  He  continued  the  retreat  of  our  army 
from  Crown  Point  to  Ticonderoga,  which  did  not 
fully  accord  with  the  views  of  Congress  and  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief.  The  British  forces  having  retired 
to  winter  quarters  in  Canada,  Gates  marched  with  a 
detachment  of  his  command  and  joined  the  main  army 
in  Jersey,  in  the  autumn  of  that  year.  His  sphere 
of  action  was  not  brilliant  or  splendid,  till  his  mighty 
achievement  in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga ; 
nor  is  he  justly  and  exclusively  entitled  to  the  full 
measure  of  applause  acquired  by  that  most  glorious 
victory  ;  the  magnanimous  General  Schuyler,*  whom 

*  Major  General  Philip  Schuyler.  It  has  been  observed  that  neither 
history  nor  biography  has  rendered  justice  to  this  highly  meritorious 
character.  He  possessed  a  clear  understanding,  a  strong  mind,  a 
humane  and  generous  disposition.  No  individual  could  have  contributed 
more  largely  by  his  vigilance  and  efficiency,  to  augment  the  obstacles 
to  the  inarch  of  the  British  army  to  Fort  Edward.  His  name  should  be 
enrolled  with  the  renowned  band  of  military  patriots  and  heroes,  that 
posterity  may  know  the  eminent  services  which  his  splendid  talents 
conferred  on  hrs  country. 


540  APPENDIX. 

he  superseded  in  command,  had,  by  his  indefatiga 
ble  industry,  and  almost  unprecedented  labors,  raised 
the  most  formidable  impediments  to  the  march  of 
Burgoyne,  which  tended  more  than  is  generally  im 
agined,  to  facilitate  the  conquest  made  by  the  northern 
army. 

When  General  Gates  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  northern  army,  August,  1777,  Generals  Schuy- 
ler  and  St.  Clair,  were  suffering,  though  most  un 
justly,  the  public  odium  by  the  evacuation  of  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  their  successor  in  command  was  in  high 
repute  and  confidence  with  his  officers  and  soldiers. 
Burgoyne's  right  wing,  under  St.  Leger,  had  been 
cut  off  at  Fort  Stanwix,  and  his  left  at  Bennington, 
by  General   Stark.     Our  army  was  daily  increasing 
in  numbers,  and  considerably  exceeded  the  strength 
of  the  enemy,  and  our  troops  were  greatly  invigorat 
ed  with  courage  and  determined  on  victory.     Every 
circumstance  in  fact  was  auspicious  to  a  successful 
issue.     Burgoyne  still  perceived  that  in  proportion 
as  he  advanced,  obstacles  multiplied  on  every  side. 
Having    at    length   surmounted   almost   insuperable 
difficulties,  he  passed  the  Hudson  and  advanced  to 
Saratoga.     Gates  also  advanced  to  Stillwater,  and 
boldly  faced  his  formidable  foe  ;  and  on  the  19th  of 
September,    a   sanguinary    conflict    ensued.      Both 
parties  firm  and  unyielding,  both  attained  the  high 
honors  of  the  brave,  but  neither  bore  the  palm  of 
a  complete  victory  from    the   field.      While   Bur- 
goyne's  loss   was   irretrievable,   the   force  and  the 
ardor  of  his  antagonist  were  continually  augmenting. 
Every  day's  delay  now  increased  the  heavy  embar 
rassments  of  Burgoyne,  while  time  threw  additional 
advantages  into  the  hands  of  his  spirited  opponent  ; 
till  at  length,  it  became  obvious  that  retreat  or  vic 
tory  was  his  unavoidable  alternative  ;  but  on  trial,  it 
was  proved  to  his  utter  dismay,  that  neither  resource 
was  at  his   command.     On  the  7th  of  October,   the 
two  opposing  armies  rushed  again  to  the  field  of 


APPENDIX.  541 

slaughter,  and  both  were  satiated  with  blood  and 
carnage.  The  British  army  were  repulsed  in  every 
direction,  and  its  commander  was  led  to  the  painful 
conviction  that  a  more  disastrous  fate  awaited  him. 
Burgoyne  now  driven  to  the  brink  of  despair,  his 
forces  disabled,  his  provisions  exhausted,  and  a  vic 
torious  adversary  opposing  him  in  front,  resolved  on 
a  rapid  retreat,  but  on  exploring  the  route,  behold, 
his  adversary  was  there. 

The  dreaded  crisis  had  now  arrived,  when  a  capit 
ulation  was  alone  practicable.  Articles  not  very  dis 
honorable  to  the  vanquished  enemy  were  acceded  to, 
and  General  Gates  enjoyed  the  ineffable  satisfaction 
of  receiving  in  submission,  the  once  victorious  chief. 
To  the  honor  of  General  Gates  it  is  mentioned,  that 
the  captured  troops  were  directed  to  a  sequestered 
spot  to  ground  their  arms,  that  their  feelings  might 
not  be  wounded  in  the  presence  of  our  army,  though 
it  deprived  the  latter  of  a  satisfaction  in  which  they 
were  justly  entitled  to  participate.  An  interesting 
narrative  of  the  first  interview  between  the  victor 
and  the  captured  officers  is  thus  given  by  Adjutant 
General  Wilkinson.  "  General  Burgoyne  proposed 
to  be  introduced  to  General  Gates,  and  we  crossed 
the  Fishkill  and  proceeded  to  head  quarters  on  horse 
back,  General  Burgoyne  in  front  with  his  Adjutant 
General  Kingston,  and  his  aids  de  camp  Captain  Lord 
Petersham  and  Lieutenant  Wilford,  behind  him  ; 
then  followed  Major  General  Phillips,  the  Baron 
Reidesel  and  the  other  general  officers  and  their  suits 
according  to  rank.  General  Gates  advised  of  Bur- 
goyne's  approach  met  him  at  the  head  of  his  camp. 
Burgoyne  in  a  rich  royal  uniform,  and  Gates  in  a 
plain  blue  frock,  when  they  approached  nearly  with 
in  sword's  length  they  reined  up  and  halted.  I  then 
named  the  gentleman,  and  General  Burgoyne  raising 
his  hat  most  gracefully,  said,  "the  fortune  of  war, 
General  Gates,  has  made  me  your  prisoner,"  to  which 
the  conqueror,  returning  a  courtly  salute,  promptly 


542  APPENDIX. 

replied,  "  I  shall  always  be  ready  to  bear  testimony, 
that  it  has  not  been  through  any  fault  of  your  Excel 
lency."  Major  General  Phillips  then  advanced,  and 
he  and  General  Gates  saluted,  and  shook  hands  with  the 
familiarity  of  old  acquaintances.  The  Baron  Reidesel 
and  other  officers  were  introduced  in  their  turn." 
General  Gates  was  remarkable  for  his  humanity  to 
prisoners,  and  a  desire  to  mitigate  the  sufferings  of 
the  unfortunate.  Among  the  objects  in  distress  who 
claimed  his  attention,  was  Lady  Ackland,  whose  hus 
band  was  wounded  and  captured  during  the  battle 
of  the  7th  of  October.  General  Gates  bestowed  on 
her  the  care  and  tenderness  of  a  parent.  In  reply 
to  a  letter  from  General  Burgoyne  in  her  behalf,  he 
says,  "the  respect  due  to  her  ladyship's  rank,  the 
tenderness  due  to  her  person  and  sex,  were  sufficient 
recommendations  to  entitle  her  to  my  protection.  I 
am  surprized  that  your  Excellency  should  think  that 
I  could  consider  the  greatest  attention  to  Lady  Ack 
land  in  the  light  of  an  obligation."* 

General  Gates  received  the  thanks  of  Congress, 
and  a  gold  medal,  as  a  memorial  of  their  gratitude. 
Great  was  the  credit  which  he  acquired  by  this  mo 
mentous  event,  universal  joy  pervaded  the  country, 
and  all  ranks  were  ready  to  vie  with  each  other  in 
their  homage  to  the  fortunate  conqueror.  It  was  not 
long  after,  that  the  wonderful  discovery  was  suppos 
ed  to  be  made,  that  the  illustrious  Washington  was 
incompetent  to  the  task  of  conducting  the  operations 
of  the  American  army,  and  that  General  Gates,  if 
elevated  to  the  important  station  of  commander  in 
chief,  would  speedily  meliorate  the  condition  of  our 
affairs.  A  discontented  party  in  Congress,  with  a 
few  interested  individuals  in  our  army,  constituted 
the  faction  hostile  to  the  savior  of  his  country.  Gen 
eral  Gates  himself  was  strongly  suspected  of  more 
than  a  passive  acquiescence,  and  there  were  those 

*For  a  history  of  this  lady,  see  page  13-2  and  437. 


APPENDIX.  543 

who  imputed  to  him  a  principal  agency  in  the  affair, 
which  however,  he  promptly  disavowed.  Had  the 
project  succeeded,  it  would  in  all  probability  have 
sealed  the  ruin  of  our  army  and  sacrificed  the  glori 
ous  cause  of  our  country.  But  all  the  eclat  which 
General  Gates  had  acquired,  and  all  the  splendor  of 
his  name  were  insufficient  to  proselyte  a  single  officer 
to  his  interest.  He  was  not  endowed  with  that  dig 
nity,  and  with  those  illustrious  qualities  which  were 
requisite  to  command  the  confidence  and  reverence 
of  the  army  as  the  successor  of  the  much  beloved 
Washington.  I  am  assured  by  Governor  Brooks,  that 
being  in  company  with  a  number  of  respectable  offi 
cers  at  Valley  Forge  when  the  subject  was  canvassed, 
General  Weedon,  of  Virginia,  with  great  vehemence 
declared,  that  should  General  Gates  be  preferred  to 
the  chief  command,  he  never  would  serve  under  him, 
but  would  absolutely  resign  his  commission  and  quit 
the  service,  and  all  present  were  in  unison  with  him 
in  opinion. 

A  private  correspondence  was  maintained  between 
the  intriguing  General  Conway  and  General  Gates, 
criticising  and  reprobating  the  measures  pursued  by 
General  Washington,  and  in  one  of  Conway's  letters 
he  ascribes  our  want  of  success  to  a  weak  general 
and  bad  counsellors.  General  Gates,  on  finding  that 
General  Washington  had  been  apprized  of  this  cor 
respondence,  addressed  his  Excellency,  requesting 
that  he  would  disclose  the  name  of  his  informant, 
and  extraordinary  as  it  may  appear,  in  violation  of 
the  rules  of  decorum,  he  addressed  the  Commander 
in  Chief  on  a  subject  of  extreme  delicacy  in  an 
open  letter,  transmitted  to  the  President  of  Congress. 
His  pretence  was,  that  some  of  the  members  of  that 
body  might  aid  in  detecting  the  person  who  made 
the  communication.  General  Washington  however, 
made  no  hesitancy  in  disclosing  the  name  and  the 
circumstances  which  brought  the  affair  to  light.  Gen 
eral  Gates  then  with  inexcusable  disingenuousness 


544  APPENDIX. 

attempted   to  vindicate  the  conduct  of  Conway,  and 
to  deny  that  his  letter  contained  the  reprehensible 
expressions  in  question,  but  utterly  refused  to  pro 
duce  the  original  letter.     This  subject  however,  was 
so  ably  and  candidly  discussed  by  General  Washing 
ton,  as  to  cover  his  adversary  with  shame  and  humili 
ation,  and  he  was  glad  to  discontinue  the  investiga 
tion.     It  was  thought  to  be  inexcusable  in  General 
Gates,  that  he  neglected  to  communicate  to  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief  an  account  of  so  important  an  event 
as  the  capture  of  the  British  army  at  Saratoga,  but 
left  his  Excellency  to  obtain  information  by  common 
report.     In  November,  1777,  Congress  having  new 
modeled  the  board  of  war,  appointed  General  Gates 
the   president,  and  he  entered  on  the  duties  of  the 
office,  but  retained  his  rank  in  the  army.     The  sub 
ject  of  this  sketch  was  destined  to  experience  in  a 
remarkable  manner,  the  humiliating  vicissitudes  of 
fortuae.     He  had  the  conducting  of  the  most  pros 
perous,  and  the  most  disastrous  of  the  military  en- 
terprize,  in  the  war.     In  June,  1780,  General  Gates 
was  by  Congress  vested  with  the  chief  command  of 
our  army  in  the  southern  states.     In  a  general  battle 
at  Camden,*  August  15th,   being  the  first  and   only 
encounter  which  he  had  with   Lord  Cornwallis,  he 
suffered  a  total  defeat  and  was  obliged  to  fly  from 
the  enemy  for  personal  safety,   and    thus  was  the 
prediction  of  General   Lee,  when  Gates  was  vested 
with  the  command,  that  his  northern  laurels  would 
be  exchanged  for  southern    willows,   verified.      It 
would  however  be  great  injustice,  to  attribute  the 
misfortune  altogether  to  the  commander  under  his 
peculiar  circumstances  ;  a  large  proportion   of   his 

*  In  the  disastrous  battle  at  Camden,  the  Baron  de  Kalb,  a  brave  and 
experienced  Prussian  officer,  and  major  general  in  our  service,  was  un 
fortunately  slain.  It  was  said  that  this  heroic  officer  cautioned  Gen 
eral  Gates  against  a  general  action,  under  present  circumstances.  His 
exit  was  marked  with  unfading  glory,  and  his  distinguished  merit  was 
gratefully  acknowledged  by  Congress,  in  erecting  a  monument  to  his 
memory. 


APPENDIX.  545 

force  consisted  of  raw  militia,  who  were  panic  struck, 
and  fled  at  the  first  lire,  their  rout  was  absolute  and 
irretrievable.  It  may  be  observed  nevertheless,  that 
his  conduct  in  some  respects  on  this  occasion  did  not 
meet  the  approbation  of  those  who  must  be  admitted 
as  competent  judges  of  the  military  operations  of  that 
fatal  day.  Proudly  calculating  on  the  weight  of  his 
name,  and  too  confident  in  his  own  superiority,  he 
slighted  the  counsel  which  he  ought  to  have  respect 
ed,  and  hurrying  impetuously  into  the  field  of  battle^ 
his  tide  of  prosperity  ebbed  as  fast  at  Camden  as  it 
had  flowed  at  Saratoga. 

The  plot  to  supplant  General  Washington  is  estab 
lished  beyond  question,  and  it  will  be  only  sufficient 
to  quote  the  following  extracts  from  the  letters  of  the 
two  purest  patriots  and  men  that  have  ever  lived,  to 
satisfy  of  its  truth  those  who  are  not  familiar  with  the 
events  of  that  period.  Patrick  Henry,  writing  on 
the  subject  to  General  Washington,  says  : — 

"  While  you  face  the  armed  enemies  of  our  liberty 
in  the  field,  and,  by  the  favor  of  God,  have  been 
kept  unhurt,  I  trust  your  country  will  never  harbor 
in  her  bosom  the  miscreant  who  would  ruin  her  best 
supporter.  I  wish  not  to  flatter  ;  but  when  arts  un 
worthy  honest  men  are  used  to  defame  and  traduce 
you,  I  think  it  not  amiss,  but  .a  duty,  to  assure 
you  of  that  estimation  in  which  the  public  hold 
you.  Not  that  I  think  any  testimony  I  can  bear,  is 
necessary  for  your  support,  or  private  satisfaction, 
for  a  bare  recollection  of  what  is  past  must  give  you 
sufficient  pleasure  in  every  circumstance  of  life.  But 
I  cannot  help  assuring  you,  on  this  occasion,  of  the 
high  sense  of  gratitude  which  all  ranks  of  men,  in  this 
your  native  country,  bear  to  you.  It  will  give  me 
sincere  pleasure  to  manifest  my  regards,  and  render 
my  best  services  to  you  or  yours.  I  do  not  like  to 
make  a  parade  of  these  things,  and  I  know  you  are 
not  fond  of  it ;  however,  I  hope  the  occasion  will 
plead  my  excuse." 
69 


546  APPENDIX. 

To  which  General  Washington  replies — 

"The  anonymous  letter  with  which  you  were  pleas 
ed  to  favor  me  was  written  by  *##*#*######?  so  far 
as  I  can  judge  from  a  similitude  of  hands.******* 

"  My  caution  to  avoid  any  thing  that  could  injure 
the  service  prevented  me  from  communicating,  ex 
cept  to  a  very  few  of  my  friends,  the  intrigues  of  a 
faction  which  I  know  was  formed  against  me,  since  it 
might  serve  to  publish  our  internal  dissensions,  but 
their  own  restless  zeal  to  advance  their  views  has  too 
clearly  betrayed  them,  and  made  concealment  on  my 
part  fruitless.  I  cannot  precisely  mark  the  extent 
of  their  views,  but  it  appeared  in  general,  that  Gen 
eral  Gates  was  to  be  exalted  on  the  ruin  of  my  repu 
tation  and  influence.  This  I  am  authorized  to  say 
from  undeniable  facts  in  my  possession,  from  publica 
tions,  the  evident  scope  of  which  could  not  be  mis 
taken,  and  from  private  detractions  industriously 
circulated.  #*###*##*****?  it  is  generally  sup 
posed,  bore  the  second  part  in  the  cabal ;  and  Gen 
eral  Conway,  I  know,  was  a  very  active  and  malig 
nant  partizan  ;  but  I  have  good  reason  to  believe 
that  their  machinations  have  recoiled  most  sensibly 
on  themselves." 

Yet  in  the  face  of  this  evidence  of  the  fact,  Gen 
eral  Armstrong  recently  avows  that  "  the  slander 
propagated  and  believed  for  half  a  century,  that  two 
distinguished  officers  of  the  army  of  the  revolution 
had  conspired  to  put  down  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
is  an  impudent  and  vile  falsehood,  from  beginning 
to  end:7 

General  Gates  was  displaced  from  his  command 
by  order  of  Congress,  and  his  conduct  subjected  to 
the  inquiry  of  a  special  court,  which  resulted  in  his 
acquittal,  but  his  Saratoga  laurels  had  faded,  and  he 
was  unable  to  retrieve  his  suffering  fame. 

"  It  was  the  general  opinion  that  General  Gates 
was  not  treated  by  Congress  with  that  delicacy,  or 
indeed  gratitude,  that  was  due  to  an  officer  of  his 


APPENDIX.  547 

acknowledged  merit.  He  however,  received  the 
order  of  his  supersedure  and  suspension,  and  resign 
ed  the  command  to  General  Greene  with  becoming 
dignity."  General  Greene  asserted  that  if  there  was 
any  mistake  in  the  conduct  of  Gates,  it  was  in  hazard 
ing  an  action  at  all  against  such  superior  force. 

He  was  reinstated  in  his  military  command  in  the 
main  army  in  1782,  but  the  great  scenes  of  war  were 
now  passed,  and  he  could  only  participate  in  the 
painful  scene  of  a  final  separation. 

In  the  midst  of  his  misfortune  General  Gates  was 
called  to  mourn  the  afflictive  dispensation  of  Provi 
dence  in  the  death  of  his  only  son.  Major  Garden 
in  his  excellent  publication  has  recorded  the  follow 
ing  affecting  anecdote  which  he  received  from  Dr. 
William  Reed. 

"  Having  occasion  to  call  on  General  Gates,  rela 
tive  to  the  business  of  the  department  under  my  im 
mediate  charge,  I  found  him  traversing  the  apart 
ment  which  he  occupied,  under  the  influence  of 
high  excitement ;  his  agitation  was  excessive — every 
feature  of  his  countenance,  every  gesture  betrayed 
it.  Official  despatches  informing  him  that  he  was 
superseded,  and  that  the  command  of  the  southern 
army  had  been  transferred  to  General  Greene, 
had  just  been  received  and  perused  by  him.  His 
countenance,  however,  betrayed  no  expression  of 
irritation  or  resentment ;  it  was  sensibility  alone  that 
caused  his  emotion.  An  open  letter  which  he  held 
in  his  hand,  was  often  raised  to  his  lips,  and  kissed 
with  devotion,  while  the  exclamation  repeatedly 
escaped  them — <  Great  man  !  Noble,  generous  pro 
cedure  !?  When  the  tumult  of  his  mind  had  sub 
sided,  and  his  thoughts  found  utterance,  he,  with 
strong  expression  of  feeling,  exclaimed — 6  I  have  re 
ceived  this  day  a  communication  from  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief,  which  has  conveyed  more  consola 
tion  to  my  bosom,  more  ineffable  delight  to  my  heart, 
than  I  had  believed  it  possible  for  it  ever  to  have 


548  APPENDIX. 

felt  again.  With  affectionate  tenderness  he  sympa 
thizes  with  me  in  my  domestic  misfortunes,  and  con 
doles  with  me  on  the  loss  I  have  sustained  by  the 
recent  death  of  an  only  son  ;  and  then  with  peculiar 
delicacy,  lamenting  my  misfortune  in  battle,  assures 
me,  that  his  confidence  in  my  zeal  and  capacity  is  so 
little  impaired,  that  the  command  of  the  right  wing 
of  the  army  will  be  bestowed  on  me  so  soon  as  I  can 
make  it  convenient  to  join  him.'  " 

When  the  revolution  was  completed  General  Gates 
retired  to  his  plantation  in  Virginia,  where  he  con 
tinued  about  seven  years,  when   he  with   his  wife 
took  up   his  final  residence  in  the  neighborhood  of 
New  York.     In  civil  life  General  Gates  was  a  zealous 
partizan,  but  he  was  always  disappointed  in  his  am 
bitious  views.     In  1800,  he  was  elected  to  the  New 
York  legislature  to  answer  the  purpose  of  a  party, 
and  withdrew  again  to  private  life  as  soon  as  that 
purpose  was  answered.     During  the  federal  adminis 
tration  of  the  general  government,  he  was  found  in 
the  ranks  of  the  opposite  or  minor  party,  which  ex 
cluded  him  altogether  from  a  share  of  the  honors  and 
emoluments  which  it  was  in  the  power  of  his  former 
illustrious  military  leader  to  bestow.     "  A  few  years 
before  his  death  he  generously  gave  freedom  to  his 
slaves,  making  provision  for  the  old  and  infirm,  while 
several  testified  their  attachment  to  him  by  remaining 
in  his  family.     In  the  characteristic  virtue  of  plan 
ters'  hospitality,  Gates  had  no  competitor,  and   his 
reputation  may  well  be  supposed  to  put   this  virtue 
to  a  hard  test."     "  He  had  a  handsome  person,  and 
was  gentlemanly  in  his  manners,  remarkably  courteous 
to  all,  and  carrying  good  humor  sometimes  beyond  the 
nice  limit  of  dignity.     To  science,  literature  or  eru 
dition  however,  he  made  no  pretensions,  but  gave 
indisputable  marks  of  a  social,   amiable,  benevolent 
disposition.     He  died  without  posterity  at  his  abode 
near  New  York,  on  the   10th  day  of  April,  1806, 
aged  seventy  eight  years." 


APPENDIX.  549 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  JOHN  STARK. 

General  Stark  was  a  native  of  Londonderry,  in 
New  Hampshire,  and  was  born  August  17th,  1728. 
When  at  the  age  of  21  years,  he  was,  while  on  a 
hunting  excursion,  surprized  and  captured  by  the 
Indians,  and  remained  four  months  a  prisoner  in  their 
hands.  He  was  captain  of  a  company  of  rangers  in 
the  provincial  service  during  the  French  war  of 
1755,  and  was  with  the  British  General  Lord  Howe, 
when  he  was  killed  in  storming  the  French  lines  at 
Ticonderoga,  in  July,  1758.  At  the  close  of  that 
war  he  retired  with  the  reputation  of  a  brave,  and 
vigilant  officer.  When  the  report  of  Lexington 
battle  reached  him,  he  was  engaged  at  work  in  his 
saw-mill ;  fired  with  indignation  and  a  martial  spirit, 
he  immediately  seized  his  musket,  and  with  a  band 
of  heroes  proceeded  to  Cambridge.  The  morning 
after  his  arrival  he  received  a  colonel's  commission, 
and  availing  himself  of  his  own  popularity,  and  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  day,  in  two  hours  he  enlisted 
eight  hundred  men  !  On  the  memorable  17th  of 
June,  at  Breed's  hill,  Colonel  Stark  at  the  head  of 
his  back- woodsmen  of  New  Hampshire,  poured  on 
the  enemy  that  deadly  fire,  from  a  sure  aim,  which 
effected  such  remarkable  destruction  in  their  ranks, 
and  compelled  them  twice  to  retreat.  During  the 
whole  of  this  dreadful  conflict,  Colonel  Stark  evinced 
that  consummate  bravery  and  intrepid  zeal,  which 
entitle  his  name  to  honor  and  perpetual  remem 
brance  in  the  pages  of  our  history.  After  the  British 
evacuated  Boston,  Colonel  Stark  joined  our  northern 
army  while  retreating  from  Canada,  and  he  had  the 
command  of  a  party  of  troops  who  were  employed  in 
fortifying  the  post  of  Mount  Independence.  We 
next  find  him  at  Trenton,  in  December,  1776,  where 
he  shared  largely  in  the  honors  of  that  ever  memo 
rable  battle  under  Washington,  when  the  Hessians 


550  APPENDIX. 

were  captured.  But  Stark  reached  the  climax  of 
his  fame,  when  in  one  of  the  darkest  and  most  des 
ponding  periods  of  the  American  war,  he  achieved  a 
glorious  victory  over  the  enemy  at  Bennington. 
General  Burgoyne,  after  possessing  himself  of  Ticon- 
deroga  in  July,  1776,  and  while  advancing  at  the 
head  of  his  victorious  army  towards  Albany,  conceiv 
ed  the  design  of  taking  hy  surprize  a  quantity  of 
stores  which  our  people  had  deposited  at  Benning 
ton.  For  this  enterprize  he  despatched  a  German 
officer,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Baum,  with  one  thousand 
five  hundred  soldiers  and  one  hundred  Indians,  with 
two  field  pieces.  Stark  was  at  this  time  brigadier 
general  of  militia,  and  was  in  the  vicinity  with  about 
one  thousand  four  hundred  brave  men  from  New 
Hampshire.  He  advanced  towards  the  enemy  and 
drew  up  his  men  in  a  line  of  battle.  Colonel  Baum 
deeming  it  imprudent  to  engage  with  his  present 
force,  halted  his  troops  and  sent  an  express  to  Bur- 
goyne  for  a  reinforcement,  and  in  the  mean  time  en 
trenched  and  rendered  himself  as  defensible  as  pos 
sible. 

General  Burgoyne  immediately  despatched  Colo 
nel  Breyman,  with  about  one  thousand  troops,  to  re 
inforce  Colonel  Baum  ;  but  a  heavy  rain  and  bad 
roads  prevented  his  arrival  in  season.  General 
Stark,  on  the  16th  of  August,  planned  his  mode  of 
attack,  and  a  most  severe  action  ensued,  which  con 
tinued  about  two  hours,  with  an  incessant  firing  of 
musketry  and  the  enemy's  field  artillery.  Colonel 
Baum  defended  himself  with  great  bravery  till  he  re 
ceived  a  mortal  wound,  and  his  whole  party  was  de 
feated.  It  was  not  long  after,  that  Colonel  Breyman 
appeared  with  his  reinforcement,  and  another  battle 
ensued,  which  continued  obstinate  on  both  sides  till 
sunset,  when  the  Germans  yielded,  and  the  victory  on 
our  side  was  complete,  the  trophies  of  which  were 
four  brass  field  pieces,  and  more  than  seven  hundred 
prisoners.  For  a  more  particular  detail  of  this  en- 


APPENDIX.  551 

terprize  see  page  one  hundred  and  eleven  of  this  vol 
ume.  Congress,  on  the  4th  of  October  following, 
passed  a  resolve  of  thanks  to  General  Stark,  and  the 
officers  and  troops  under  his  command,  for  their 
brave  and  successful  attack  and  signal  victory,  and  that 
Brigadier  Stark  be  appointed  a  brigadier  general  in 
the  army  of  the  United  States.  General  Stark  volun 
teered  his  services  under  General  Gates  at  Saratoga, 
and  assisted  in  the  council  which  stipulated  the  sur 
render  of  General  Burgoyne,  nor  did  he  relinquish 
his  valuable  services  till  he  could  greet  his  native 
country  as  an  Independent  Empire.  General  Stark 
was  of  the  middle  stature,  not  formed  by  nature  to 
exhibit  an  erect  soldierly  mien.  His  manners  were 
frank,  and  unassuming,  but  he  manifested  a  peculiar 
sort  of  eccentricity  and  negligence,  which  precluded 
all  display  of  personal  dignity,  and  seemed  to  place 
him  among  those  of  ordinary  rank  in  life.  But  as  a 
courageous  and  heroic  soldier,  he  is  entitled  to  high 
rank  among  those  who  have  been  crowned  with  un 
fading  laurels,  and  to  whom  a  large  share  of  glory  is 
justly  due.  His  character  as  a  private  citizen  was 
unblemished,  and  he  was  ever  held  in  respect.  For 
the  last  few  years  of  his  life,  he  enjoyed  a  pecuniary 
bounty  from  the  government.  He  lived  to  the  ad 
vanced  age  of  ninty  three  years  eight  months  and 
twenty  four  days,  and  died  May  8th,  1822. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  JOHN  SULLIVAN. 

General  Sullivan  has  a  claim  to  honorable  distinc 
tion  among  the  general  officers  of  the  American 
army.  Before  the  revolution  he  had  attained  to  em 
inence  in  the  profession  of  the  law,  in  New  Hamp 
shire.  But  indulging  a  laudable  ambition  for  military 


552  APPENDIX. 

glory,  he  relinquished  the  fairest  prospects  of  fortune 
and  fame,  and  on  the  commencement  of  hostilities, 
appeared  among  the  most  ardent  patriots  and  in 
trepid  warriors.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first 
Congress,  in  1774  ;  but  preferring  a  military  com 
mission,  he  was  in  1775,  appointed  a  brigadier  gen 
eral  of  the  American  army  then  at  Cambridge,  and 
soon  obtained  the  command  on  Winter  Hill.  The 
next  year  he  was  ordered  to  Canada,  and  on  the 
death  of  General  Thomas,  the  command  of  the  army 
devolved  on  him.  The  situation  of  our  army  in  that 
quarter,  was  inexpressibly  distressing,  destitute  of 
clothing,  dispirited  by  defeat  and  constant  fatigue, 
and  a  large  proportion  of  the  troops  sick  with  the 
small  pox,  which  was  attended  by  an  unprecedented 
mortality.  By  his  great  exertions  and  judicious 
management  he  meliorated  the  condition  of  the  army, 
and  obtained  general  applause.  On  his  retiring  from 
that  command,  July  12,  1776,  the  field  officers  thus 
addressed  him.  "  It  is  to  you,  Sir,  the  public  are 
indebted  for  the  preservation  of  their  property  in 
Canada.  It  is  to  you  we  owe  our  safety  thus  far. 
Your  humanity  will  call  forth  the  silent  tear,  and 
the  grateful  ejaculation  of  the  sick.  Your  universal 
impartiality,  will  force  the  applause  of  the  wearied 
soldier.'*  In  August,  1776,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  general,  and  soon  after  was  with 
major  general  Lord  Stirling,  captured  by  the  British 
in  the  battle  on  Long  Island.  General  Sullivan  being 
paroled,  was  sent  by  General  Howe  with  a  message 
to  Congress,  after  which  he  returned  to  New  York. 
In  September  he  was  exchanged  for  Major  General 
Prescott.  We  next  find  him  in  command  of  the 
right  division  of  our  troops,  in  the  famous  battle  at 
Trenton,  and  he  acquitted  himself  honorably  on  that 
ever  memorable  day. 

In  August,  1777,  without  the  authority  of  Con 
gress,  or  the  Commander  in  Chief,  he  planned  and 
executed  an  expedition  against  the  enemy  on  Statea 


APPENDIX.  553 

Island.  Though  the  enterprize  was  conducted  with 
prudence  and  success  in  part,  it  was  said  by  some 
to  be  less  brilliant  than  might  have  been  expected, 
under  his  favorable  circumstances ;  and  as  that  act 
was  deemed  a  bold  assumption  of  responsibility,  and 
reports  to  his  prejudice  being  in  circulation,  a  court 
of  inquiry  was  ordered  to  investigate  his  conduct. 
The  result  was  an  honorable  acquittal,  and  Congress 
resolved  that  the  result  so  honorable  to  General  Sul 
livan  is  highly  pleasing  to  Congress,  and  that  the 
opinion  of  the  court  be  published,  in  justification  of 
that  injured  officer.  In  the  battles  at  Brandywine 
and  at  Germantown,  in  the  autumn  of  1777,  General 
Sullivan  commanded  a  division,  and  in  the  latter 
conflict  his  two  aids  were  killed,  and  his  own  conduct 
was  so  conspicuously  brave,  that  General  Washing 
ton  in  his  letter  to  Congress  concludes  with  encomi 
ums  on  the  gallantry  of  General  Sullivan,  and  the 
whole  right  wing  of  the  army,  who  acted  immediately 
under  the  eye  of  his  Excellency.  In  August,  1778, 
General  Sullivan  was  sole  commander  of  an  expedi 
tion  to  the  island  of  Newport,  in  co-operation  with 
the  French  fleet  under  the  Count  D'Estaing.  The 
Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  General  Greene,  volun 
teered  their  services  on  the  occasion.  The  object  of 
the  expedition  was  defeated,  in  consequence  of  the 
French  fleet  being  driven  off  by  a  violent  storm. 
By  this  unfortunate  event  the  enemy  were  encour 
aged  to  engage  our  army  in  battle,  in  which  they  suf 
fered  a  repulse,  and  General  Sullivan  finally  effected 
a  safe  retreat  to  the  main.  This  retreat,  so  ably  ex 
ecuted  without  confusion,  or  the  loss  of  baggage,  or 
stores,  increased  the  military  reputation  of  General 
Sullivan,  and  redounds  to  his  honor  as  a  skilful  com 
mander. 

The  bloody  tragedy,  acted  at  Wyoming,  in  1778, 

had  determined  the  Commander  in  Chief,  in  1779,  to 

employ  a  large  detachment  from  the  continental  army 

to  penetrate  into  the  heart  of  the  Indian  country,  to 

70 


554  APPENDIX. 

chastize  the  hostile  tribes  and  their  white  associates 
and  adherents,  for  their  cruel  aggressions  on  the  de 
fenceless  inhabitants.     The  command  of  this  expedi 
tion,  was  committed  to  Major  General  Sullivan,  with 
express  orders  to  destroy  their  settlements,  to  ruin 
their  crops  and  make  such  thorough  devastations,  as 
to  render  the  country  entirely  uninhabitable  for  the 
present,  and  thus  to  compel  the  savages  to  remove  to 
a  greater  distance  from  our  frontiers.     General  Sul 
livan  had  under  his  command  several  brigadiers  and 
a  well  chosen  army,  to  which  were  attached  a  num 
ber  of  friendly  Indian  warriors.     With  this  force  he 
penetrated    about   ninety   miles   through    a   horrid 
swampy  wilderness  and  barren  mountainous  deserts, 
to  Wyoming,   on  the   Susquehanna  river,  thence  by 
water  to  Tioga,  and  possessed  himself  of  numerous 
towns  and  villages  of  the  savages.     During  this  haz 
ardous  expedition,  General  Sullivan  and  his   army 
encountered  the  most  complicated  obstacles,  requir 
ing  the  greatest  fortitude  and  perseverance  to  sur 
mount.     He  explored  an  extensive  tract  of  country 
and  strictly  executed  the  severe,  but  necessary  orders 
he  had  received.     A  considerable  number  of  Indians 
were  slain,   some  were  captured,   their  habitations 
were  burnt  and  their  plantations  of  corn  and  veg 
etables   laid   waste   in   the   most   effectual   manner. 
"  Eighteen  villages,  a  number  of  detached  buildings, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and 
those  fruits  and  vegetables,  which  conduce  to  the 
comfort  and  subsistence  of  man,  were    utterly  de 
stroyed.     Five  weeks  were  unremittingly  employed 
in  this  work  of  devastation."     On  his  return  from 
the  expedition,  he  and  his  army  received  the  appro 
bation  of  Congress.     It  is  remarked  on  this  expedi 
tion,  by  the   translator  of  M.  Chastelleux's  travels, 
an  Englishman   then  resident  in  the  United  States, 
that  the   instructions  given  by  General  Sullivan  to 
his  officers,  the  order  of  march  he  prescribed  to  his 
troops,  and  the   discipline   he   had   the  ability   to 


APPENDIX.  555 

maintain,  would  have  done  honor  to  the  most  expe 
rienced  ancient  or  modern  generals.  At  the  close 
of  the  campaign  of  1779,  General  Sullivan,  in  conse 
quence  of  impaired  health,  resigned  his  commission 
in  the  army.  Congress  in  accepting  of  his  resigna 
tion  passed  a  resolve,  thanking  him  for  his  past  ser 
vices.  His  military  talents  and  hold  spirit  of  enter- 
prize  were  universally  acknowledged.  He  was  fond 
of  display,  and  his  personal  appearance  and  digni 
fied  deportment  commanded  respect.  After  his 
resignation,  he  resumed  his  professional  pursuits  at 
the  bar,  and  was  much  distinguished  as  a  statesman, 
politician  and  patriot.  He  acquired  very  consider 
able  proficiency  in  general  literature,  and  an  exten 
sive  knowledge  of  men  and  the  world.  He  received 
from  Harvard  University,  a  degree  of  Master  of  Arts, 
and  from  the  University  of  Dartmouth,  a  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Laws.  He  was  one  of  the  convention 
who  formed  the  state  constitution  for  New  Hamp 
shire,  was  chosen  into  the  first  council,  and  was 
afterwards  elected  chief  magistrate  in  that  state,  and 
held  the  office  for  three  years.  In  September,  1789, 
he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  District  Court,  for  the 
District  of  New  Hampshire,  and  continued  in  the 
office  till  his  death,  in  1795. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  THOMAS  CONWAY. 

KNIGHT    OF    THE    ORDER    OF    ST.    LOUIS. 

This  gentleman  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  went 
with  his  parents  to  France,  at  the  age  of  six  years, 
and  was  from  his  youth  educated  to  the  profession  of 
arms.  He  had  obtained  considerable  reputation  as 
a  military  officer,  and  as  a  man  of  sound  understand 
ing  and  judgment.  He  arrived  from  France,  with 


556  APPENDIX. 

ample  recommendations,  and  Congress  appointed  him 
a  brigadier  general  in  May,  1777.  He  soon  became 
conspicuously  inimical  to  General  Washington,  and 
sought  occasions  to  traduce  his  character.  In  this 
he  found  support  from  a  faction  in  Congress,  who 
were  desirous  that  the  Commander  in  Chief  should 
be  superseded.  The  Congress  not  long  after  elected 
General  Conway  to  the  office  of  Inspector  General 
to  our  army,  with  the  rank  of  major  general,  though 
he  had  insulted  the  Commander  in  Chief  and  justi 
fied  himself  in  doing  so.  This  gave  umbrage  to  the 
brigadiers  over  whom  he  was  promoted,  and  they 
remonstrated  to  Congress  against  the  proceeding,  as 
implicating  their  honor  and  character.  Conway,  now 
smarting  under  the  imputation  of  having  instigated 
a  hostile  faction  against  the  illustrious  Washington, 
and  being  extremely  unpopular  among  the  officers  in 
general,  and  finding  his  situation  did  not  accord  with 
his  feelings  and  views,  resigned  his  commission,  with 
out  having  commenced  the  duties  of  inspector.  He 
was  believed  to  be  an  unprincipled  intriguer,  and 
after  his  resignation,  his  calumny  and  detraction  of 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  the  army  generally, 
was  exercised  with  unrestrained  virulence  and  out 
rage. 

No  man  was  more  zealously  engaged  in  the  scheme 
of  elevating  General  Gates  to  the  station  of  Com 
mander  in  Chief.  His  vile  insinuations  and  direct 
assertions  in  the  public  newspapers,  and  in  private 
conversation,  relative  to  the  incapacity  of  Washing 
ton  to  conduct  the  operations  of  the  army,  received 
countenance  from  several  members  of  Congress,  who 
were  induced  to  declare  their  want  of  confidence 
in  him,  and  the  affair  assumed  an  aspect  threatening 
the  most  disastrous  consequences.  Conway  main 
tained  a  correspondence  with  General  Gates  on  the 
subject,  and  in  one  of  his  letters,  he  thus  expresses 
himself.  "  Heaven  has  been  determined  to  save  your 
country,  or  a  weak  General  and  bad  counsellors^ 


APPENDIX.  557 

would  have  ruined  it."  He  was  himself  at  that  time 
one  of  the  counsellors,  against  whom  he  so  basely 
inveighs.  Envy  and  malice  ever  are  attendant  on 
exalted  genius  and  merit.  But  the  delusion  was  of 
short  continuance,  the  name  of  Washington,  proved 
unassailable,  and  the  base  intrigue  of  Conway  recoil 
ed  with  bitterness  on  his  own  head.  General  Cad 
wallader,  of  Pennsylvania,  indignant  at  the  attempt 
to  vilify  the  character  of  Washington,  resolved  to 
avenge  himself  on  the  aggressor,  in  personal  combat. 
In  Major  Garden's  Anecdotes  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  &c.  we  have  the  following  detailed  particulars 
of  the  duel.  "  The  parties  having  declared  themselves 
ready,  the  word  was  given  to  proceed.  General  Con- 
way  immediately  raised  his  pistol  and  fired  with  great 
composure,  but  without  effect.  General  Cadwallader 
was  about  to  do  so,  when  a  sudden  gust  of  wind  oc 
curring,  he  kept  his  pistol  down  and  remained  tran 
quil.  "  Why  do  you  not  fire,  General  Cadwallader?" 
exclaimed  Conway.  "  Because,"  replied  general  Cad 
wallader,  "we  came  not  here  to  trifle.  Let  the  gale 
pass,  and  I  shall  act  my  part."  "  You  shall  have  a 
fair  chance  of  performing  it  well,"  rejoined  Conway, 
and  immediately  presented  a  full  front.  General 
Cadwallader  fired,  and  his  ball  entered  the  mouth  of 
his  antagonist,  he  fell  directly  forward  on  his  face. 
Colonel  Morgan,  running  to  his  assistance,  found  the 
blood  spouting  from  behind  his  neck,  and  lifting  up 
the  club  of  his  hair,  saw  the  ball  drop  from  it.  It 
had  passed  through  his  head,  greatly  to  the  derange 
ment  of  his  tongue  and  teeth,  but  did  not  inflict  a 
mortal  wound.  As  soon  as  the  blood  was  sufficiently 
washed  away  to  allow  him  to  speak,  General  Conway, 
turning  to  his  opponent,  said  good  humoredly,  "  You 
fire,  general,  with  much  deliberation,  and  certainly 
with  a  great  deal  of  effect."  The  calls  of  honor  being 
satisfied,  all  animosity  subsided,  and  they  parted 
free  from  all  resentment.  General  Conway,  conceiv 
ing  his  wound  to  be  mortal,  and  believing  death  to 


558  APPENDIX. 

be  near,  acted  honorably,  in  addressing  to  General 
Washington,  whom  he  had  perfidiously  slandered,  the 
following  letter  of  apology. 

Philadelphia,  February  23d,  1778. 
SIR, 

I  find  myself  just  able  to  hold  my  pen  during 
a  few  minutes,  and  take  this  opportunity  of  ex 
pressing  my  sincere  grief,  for  having  done,  written, 
or  said  any  thing  disagreeable  to  your  Excellency. 
My  career  will  soon  be  over,  therefore  justice  and 
truth  prompt  me  to  declare  my  last  sentiments. 
You  are  in  my  eyes  the  great  and  good  man.  May 
you  long  enjoy  the  love,  esteem  and  veneration  of 
these  stales,  whose  liberties  you  have  asserted,  by 
your  virtues. 

I  am,  with  the  greatest  respect, 

Your  Excellency's 
Most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

THS.  CONWAY. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  CHARLES  LEE. 

General  Lee  was  an  original  genius,  and  one  of 
the  most  eccentric  and  extraordinary  characters  of 
the  age.  His  brilliant  talents,  military  prowess  and 
extensive  intelligence  would  have  entitled  him  to 
pre-eminence  in  the  days  of  chivalry.  He  could  dig 
nify  with  honor  an  elevated  station,  and  it  was  not 
difficult  for  him  to  degrade  his  rank  by  indulging 
in  a  malignant,  sordid  passion  for  personal  satire  and 
invective.  From  the  qualities  and  manners  of  a 
gentleman,  he  could  descend  to  the  level  of  a  queru 
lous  clown.  The  profession  of  arms  was  his  delight 
from  infancy,  and  he  was  commissioned  at  the  early 
age  of  eleven  years.  In  the  year  1762,  he  bore  a 


APPENDIX.  559 

colonel's  commission,  and  served  under  General  Bur- 
goyne  in  Portugal,  where  he  signalized  himself  by 
his  martial  skill  and  active  enterprizes.  He  after 
wards  served  as  an  aid  de  camp  to  his  Polish  Majesty, 
with  the  rank  of  major  general.  He  exhausted 
every  valuable  treatise  both  ancient  and  modern  on 
the  military  art,  and  his  capacious  mind  was  stored 
with  knowledge  on  every  subject  which  he  could 
collect  from  reading,  conversation  and  extensive 
travelling  in  Europe.  He  was  honored  with  the 
acquaintance  of  princes  and  noblemen,  yet  his  man 
ners  were  rude  and  singular,  partly  from  nature,  and 
partly  from  affectation.  To  his  strong  powers  of  in 
tellect,  he  added  literary  accomplishments,  and  the 
knowledge  of  six  languages  beside  his  own.  As  a 
statesman  he  appeared  to  be  influenced  by  an  innate 
principle  of  republicanism ;  an  attachment  to  these 
principles  was  implanted  in  the  constitution  of  his 
mind,  and  he  espoused  the  cause  of  America  as  a 
champion  of  her  emancipation  from  oppression.  He 
pertinaciously  opposed  every  oppressive  measure  of 
the  British  cabinet  towards  the  American  colonies, 
even  while  he  was  in  their  service.  On  his  arrival 
in  this  country,  he  became  daily  more  enthusiastic  in 
the  cause  of  liberty,  and  he  travelled  rapidly  through 
the  colonies,  animating  both  by  conversation  and  his 
eloquent  pen,  to  a  determined  and  persevering  re 
sistance  to  British  tyranny.  Thus  he  acquired  a 
large  share  of  popularity,  and  his  presence  among 
the  people  at  this  crisis  was  considered  as  a  most 
fortunate  and  propitious  omen.  He  probably  expect 
ed  to  have  become  the  first  in  military  rank  in 
America,  but  in  1775,  he  accepted  a  commission  of 
second  major  general  from  our  Congress,  having  pre 
viously  resigned  that  which  he  held  in  the  British 
service,  and  relinquished  his  half  pay.  He  accom 
panied  General  Washington  to  join  the  troops  assem 
bled  near  Boston,  in  July,  1775,  and  he  was  consider 
ed  as  a  real  acquisition  to  our  cause.  In  the  spring 


560  APPENDIX. 

of  1776,  he  was  ordered  to  New  York,  to  take 
the  command  and  to  fortify  that  city  for  defence. 
Not  long  after,  he  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  southern  department,  and  in  his  travels  through 
the  country,  he  received  every  testimony  of  high 
respect  from  the  people.  General  Sir  Henry  Clin 
ton,  and  Sir  Peter  Parker,  with  a  powerful  fleet 
and  army,  attempted  the  reduction  of  Charleston, 
while  he  was  in  command.  The  fleet  anchored 
within  half  musket  shot  of  the  fort  on  Sullivan's 
Island,  where  Colonel  Moultrie,  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  intrepid  of  men,  commanded.  A  tremen 
dous  engagement  ensued  on  the  28th  of  June,  1776, 
which  lasted  twelve  hours  without  intermission. 
The  whole  British  force  was  completely  repulsed, 
after  suffering  an  irreparable  loss.  General  Lee, 
and  Colonel  Moultrie  received  the  thanks  of  Con 
gress  for  their  signal  bravery  and  gallantry.  Our 
hero  had  now  reached  the  pinnacle  of  his  military 
glory,  the  eclat  of  his  name  alone  appeared  to  en 
chant  and  animate  the  most  desponding  heart.  But 
here  we  pause  to  contemplate  the  humiliating  reverse 
of  human  events.  He  returned  to  the  main  army  in 
October,  and  in  marching  at  the  head  of  a  large  de 
tachment  through  the  Jerseys,  having  from  a  desire 
of  retaining  a  separate  command,  delayed  his  march 
several  days  in  disobedience  of  express  orders  from 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  he  was  guilty  of  most  culpa 
ble  negligence  in  regard  to  his  personal  security. 
He  took  up  his  quarters  two  or  three  miles  from  the 
main  body,  and  lay  for  the  night,  December  13th, 
1776,  in  a  careless,  exposed  situation.  Information 
of  this  being  communicated  to  Colonel  Harcourt,  who 
commanded  the  British  light  horse,  he  proceeded 
immediately  to  the  house,  fired  into  it,  and  obliged 
the  general  to  surrender  himself  a  prisoner.  They 
mounted  him  on  a  horse  in  haste,  without  his  cloak 
or  hat,  and  conveyed  him  in  triumph  to  New  York. 
A  splendid  triumph  indeed  it  was,  for  next  to  Wash- 


APPENDIX.  561 

ington  he  was  the  most  highly  prized  as  a  captive 
by  the  British,  who  considered  him  as  the  soul  of  the 
American  army,  and  at  that  juncture  of  our  affairs  a 
more  grievous  loss,  Washington  thought,  could  not 
have  been  sustained.  The  Commander  in  Chief 
greatly  lamented  his  capture  as  he  entertained  a 
high  opinion  of  his  martial  skill,  and  he  was  appre 
hensive  that  the  British  general  would  treat  him 
with  indignity  and  ris;or.  Not  having  any  prisoner 
of  his  rank,  his  Excellency  immediately  proposed  to 
exchange  for  him  five  Hessian  field  officers  captured 
at  Trenton,  which  is  equivalent  to  the  rank  of  major 
general.  The  British  commander  affected  to  con 
sider  Lee  as  a  deserter  from  his  majesty's  service, 
and  refused  to  listen  to  proposals  for  an  exchange, 
but  treated  him  with  all  the  rigor  of  a  state  criminal 
of  the  first  magnitude.  This  compelled  the  Ameri 
can  commander,  by  order  of  Congress,  to  retaliate  on 
the  persons  of  five  Hessian  officers,  and  also  on  Colo 
nel  Campbell,  who  was  now  committed  to  a  dungeon. 
After  the  capture  of  General  Burgoyne  and  his  army, 
the  enemy  relaxed  in  their  rigorous  treatment,  and 
General  Lee  was  soon  exchanged  for  Major  General 
Prescott.  It  is  next  to  be  seen  in  what  manner 
General  Lee  terminated  his  career  in  the  continental 
service.  In  the  battle  at  Monmouth  on  the  28th  of 
June,  1778,  he  commanded  the  van  of  the  American 
troops  with  orders  from  the  Commander  in  Chief  to 
attack  the  retreating  enemy.  Instead  of  obeying 
this  order,  he  conducted  in  an  unworthy  manner  and 
greatly  disconcerted  the  arrangements  of  the  day. 
His  Excellency,  advancing  to  the  field  of  battle,  met 
him  in  his  disorderly  retreat,  and  accosted  him  with 
strong  expressions  of  disapprobation.  Lee,  incapable 
of  brooking  even  an  implied  indignity,  and  unable 
to  restrain  the  warmth  of  his  resentment,  used  im 
proper  language  in  return,  and  some  irritation  was 
excited  on  both  sides,  for  the  moment.  Lee  on  the 
same  day  addressed  two  letters  to  the  Commander  in 
71 


562  APPENDIX. 

Chief,  couched  in  disrespectful  language,  and  with  an 
air  of  defiance  solicited  a  trial  for  his  conduct,  in 
consequence  of  which  he  was  immediately  put  under 
arrest.  A  court  martial,  of  which  Lord  Stirling  was 
president^  was  ordered  for  his  trial  on  the  following 
charges.  1st.  For  disobedience  of  orders  in  not 
attacking  the  enemy  on  the  28th  of  June,  agreeably 
to  repeated  instructions.  2d.  For  misbehavior  be 
fore  the  enemy  on  the  same  day,  by  making  an  un 
necessary,  disorderly  and  shameful  retreat.  3d.  For 
disrespect  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  in  two  letters 
dated  July  1st,  and  June  28th.  The  letter  dated 
July  1st  was  so  dated  by  mistake,  it  was  written 
June  28th.  The  court  found  him  guilty  on  all  the 
charges,  and  sentenced  him  to  be  suspended  from 
any  command  in  the  armies  of  the  United  States  of 
America  for  the  term  of  twelve  months.  He  made 
a  masterly  defence,  and  endeavored  to  prove  that 
any  other  course  than  that  pursued  would  have 
given  the  enemy  great  advantage,  and  hazarded  the 
destruction  of  our  army.  In  his  adversity  General 
Lee  was  not  altogether  destitute  of  advocates  as  re 
spects  the  affair  of  Monmouth ;  they  alleged  that, 
were  it  not  for  the  disrespectful  letters  to  his  Excel 
lency,  Lee  would  have  been  acquitted,  and  the  de 
gree  of  punishment  seems  in  some  measure  to  justify 
this  opinion.  If  he  had  been  proved  fully  guilty  of  all 
the  charges,  a  suspension  for  one  year  would  be  in 
adequate  to  the  magnitude  of  the  crime.  It  appears 
also  that  Congress  did  not  without  some  demur  sanc 
tion  the  sentence  of  the  court  martial.  When  at 
length  their  confirmation  of  the  sentence  was  pro 
mulgated,  it  was  like  a  mortal  wound  to  the  lofty 
aspiring  spirit  of  General  Lee  ;  pointing  to  his  dog  he 
exclaimed  "  Oh  that  I  was  that  animal  that  I  might 
not  call  man  my  brother/'  He  became  outrageous, 
and  from  that  moment  he  was  more  open  and  viru 
lent  in  his  attack  on  the  character  of  the  Commander 
in  Chief,  and  did  not  cease  in  his  unwearied  endeavors 


APPENDIX.  563 

both  in  his  conversation  and  writings  to  lessen  his 
reputation  in  the  estimation  of  the  army,  and  the 
public.  He  was  an  active  abettor  of  General  Con- 
way  in  his  calumny  and  abuse  of  General  Washing 
ton,  and  they  were  believed  to  be  in  concert  in  their 
vile  attempts  to  supersede  his  Excellency  in  the 
supreme  command.  With  the  hope  of  effecting  his 
nefarious  purpose,  he  published  a  pamphlet  replete 
with  scurrilous  imputations  unfavorable  to  the  military- 
talents  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  but  this  with  his 
other  malignant  allegations  were  consigned  to  con 
tempt.  At  length  Colonel  Laurens,  one  of  General 
Washington's  aids,  unable  longer  to  suffer  this  gross 
abuse  of  his  illustrious  friend,  demanded  of  Lee  that 
satisfaction  which  custom  has  sanctioned  as  honorable. 
A  rencounter  accordingly  ensued,  and  Lee  received 
a  wound  in  his  side.  Lee  now  finding  himself  aban 
doned  by  his  friends,  degraded  in  the  eye  of  the 
public,  and  despised  by  the  wise  and  virtuous,  retir 
ed  to  his  sequestered  plantation  in  Virginia.  In  this 
spot,  secluded  from  all  society,  he  lived  in  a  sort  of 
hovel  without  glass  windows  or  plastering,  or  even  a 
decent  article  of  house  furniture;  here  he  amused 
himself  with  his  books  and  dogs.  On  January  10th, 
1780,  Congress  resolved  that  Major  General  Lee  be 
informed  that  they  have  no  further  occasion  for  his 
services  in  the  ;army  of  the  United  States.  In  the 
autumn  of  1782,  wearied  with  his  forlorn  situation, 
and  broken  spirit,  he  resorted  to  Philadelphia,  and 
took  lodgings  in  an  ordinary  tavern.  He  was  soon 
seized  with  a  disease  of  the  lungs,  and  after  a  few 
days'  confinement,  he  terminated  his  mortal  course, 
a  martyr  to  chagrin  and  disappointment,  October 
2d,  1782.  The  last  words  which  he  was  heard  to 
utter,  were,  "  stand  by  me  my  brave  grenadiers." 
The  citizens  of  Philadelphia  were  much  affected 
with  his  unexpected  death,  and  his  funeral  was 
attended  by  a  large  concourse  of  people,  the  clergy 
of  different  denominations,  the  president  and  mem- 


564  APPENDIX. 

bers  of  Congress,  and  of  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylva 
nia,  the  minister  of  France  and  his  secretary,  Gen 
eral  Baron  de  Viominil,  the  minister  of  war,  and 
several  other  officers  of  distinction,  both  of  the 
French  and  of  the  American  army. 

General  Lee  was  rather  above  the  middle  size, 
"  plain  in  his  person  even  to  ugliness,  and  careless 
in  his  manners  even  to  a  degree  of  rudeness  ;  his 
nose  was  so  remarkably  aquiline,  that  it  appeared  as 
a  real  deformity.  His  voice  was  rough,  his  garb  or 
dinary,  his  deportment  morose.  He  was  ambitious 
of  fame  without  the  dignity  to  support  it.  In  private 
life  he  sunk  into  the  vulgarity  of  the  clown."  His 
remarkable  partiality  for  dogs  was  such,  that  a 
number  of  these  animals  constantly  followed  in  his 
train,  and  the  ladies  complained  that  he  allowed  his 
canine  adherents  to  follow  him  into  the  parlor,  and 
not  unfrequently  a  favorite  one  might  be  seen  on  a 
chair  next  his  elbow  at  table. 

In  the  year  1776,  when  our  army  lay  at  White 
Plains,  Lee  resided  near  the  road  which  General 
Washington  frequently  passed,  and  he  one  day  with 
his  aids  called  and  took  dinner  ;  after  they  had  depart 
ed  Lee  said  to  his  aids,  "  you  must  look  me  out  other 
quarters  or  I  shall  have  Washington  and  his  puppies 
calling  till  they  eat  me  up,"  The  next  day  he  or 
dered  his  servant  to  write  with  chalk  on  the  door, 
"  no  victuals  cooked  here  to  day/'  The  company, 
seeing  the  hint  on  the  door,  passed  with  a  smile  at 
the  oddity  of  the  man.  "The  character  of  this  per 
son,"  says  one  who  knew  him  well,  "is  full  of  absur 
dities  and  qualities  of  a  most  extraordinary  nature. 
His  understanding  was  great,  his  memory  capacious 
and  his  fancy  brilliant.  He  was  a  correct  and  ele 
gant  classical  scholar,  and  both  wrote  and  spoke  his 
native  language  with  perspicuity?  force  and  beauty. 
From  these  circumstances  he  was  at  times  a  most 
agreeable  and  instructive  companion.  His  temper 
was  naturally  sour  and  severe.  He  was  seldom  seen 


APPENDIX.  565 

to  laugh  and  scarcely  to  smile.  The  history  of  his 
life  is  little  less  than  the  history  of  disputes,  quarrels 
and  duels  in  every  part  of  the  world.  He  was  vin 
dictive  to  his  enemies.  His  avarice  had  no  bounds. 
He  never  went  into  a  public  and  seldom  into  a  pri 
vate  house  where  he  did  not  discover  some  marks  of 
ineffable  and  contemptible  meanness.  He  grudged 
the  expense  of  a  nurse  in  his  last  illness,  and  died  in 
a  small  dirty  room  in  the  Philadelphia  tavern,  called 
the  Canastoga  wagon,  attended  by  no  one  but  a 
French  servant,  and  Mr.  Oswald  the  printer,  who 
once  served  as  an  officer  under  him.  He  was  both 
impious  and  profane.  In  his  principles  he  was  not 
only  an  infidel,  but  he  was  very  hostile  to  every 
attribute  of  the  Deity.  His  morals  were  exceedingly 
debauched.  His  appetite  was  so  whimsical  as  to 
what  he  ate  and  drank,  that  he  was  at  all  times  and 
in  all  places  a  most  troublesome  and  disagreeable 
guestr  His  judgment  in  war  was  generally  sound. 
He  was  extremely  useful  to  the  Americans  in  the 
beginning  of  the  revolution,  by  inspiring  them  with 
military  ideas  and  a  contempt  for  British  discipline 
and  valor.  It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  active 
and  useful  part  he  took  in  the  contest  arose  from 
personal  resentment  against  the  king  of  Great  Britain, 
or  from  a  regard  to  the  liberties  of  America.  It  is 
certain  he  reprobated  the  French  alliance  and  repub 
lican  forms  of  government  after  he  retired  from  the 
American  service.  He  was  in  the  field  brave  in  the 
highest  degree,  and  with  all  his  faults  and  oddities, 
was  beloved  by  his  officers  and  soldiers.  He  was  de 
void  of  prudence,  and  used  to  call  it  a  rascally  virtue. 
Two  virtues  he  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree,  sin 
cerity  and  veracity.  He  was  never  known  to  de 
ceive  or  desert  a  friend,  and  he  was  a  stranger  to 
equivocation,  even  where  his  safety  or  character  was 
at  stake.  It  was  notorious  that  General  Lee  was  a 
man  of  unbounded  personal  ambition,  and  conscious  of 
his  European  education,  and  pre-eminent  military  tal- 


566  APPENDIX. 

ents  and  prowess,  he  affected  a  superiority  over  Gene 
ral  Washington,  and  constantly  aimed  at  the  supreme 
command,  little  scrupulous  as  to  the  means  employed 
to  accomplish  his  own  advancement.  In  reference 
to  his  base  detraction,  General  Washington  in  a  let 
ter  to  a  friend  said,  a  what  cause  is  there  for  such 
a  profusion  of  venom  as  he  is  emitting  on  all  occa 
sions  ? — a  simple  narration  of  facts  would  defeat  all 
his  assertions,  notwithstanding  they  are  made  with 
an  effrontery  which  few  men  do,  and  for  the  honor 
of  human  nature,  ought  to  possess. " — "If  this  gentle 
man  fis  envious  of  my  station,  and  conceives  that  I 
stand  in  his  way  to  preferment,  I  can  assure  him  in 
most  solemn  terms,  that  the  first  wish  of  my  soul  is, 
to  return  to  that  peaceful  retirment,  and  domestic 
ease  and  happiness,  whence  I  came.  To  this  end 
all  my  labors  have  been  directed,  and  for  this  pur 
pose  have  I  been  more  than  four  years  a  perfect 
slave,  endeavoring,  under  as  many  embarrassing 
circumstances  as  ever  fell  to  any  man's  lot  to  encoun 
ter,  and  as  pure  motives  as  any  man  was  ever  influ 
enced  by,  to  promote  the  cause  and  service  I  had 
embarked  in."  Garden's  Jlnecdotes. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  General  Lee's  will. 

"  I  desire  most  earnestly  that  I  may  not  be  buried 
in  any  church  or  church  yard,  or  within  a  mile  of 
any  Presbyterian  or  Anabaptist  Meeting  House,  for 
since  I  have  resided  in  this  country,  I  have  kept  so 
much  bad  company  while  living,  that  I  do  not  choose 
to  continue  it  when  dead." 

Thomas  Paine  once  said  of  Lee,  that  (( he  was 
above  all  monarchs,  and  below  all  scum." 


APPENDIX.  567 


MAJOR  GENERAL  BENEDICT  ARNOLD. 

This  extraordinary  man  is  already  recorded  in  our 
revolutionary  history,  in  the  character  of  a  valiant 
and  intrepid  officer,  and  in  the  next  page  as  a  sordid 
and  infamous  traitor  to  his  country.  He  was  a  na 
tive  of  Connecticut,  where  he  was  known  as  a  half 
bred  apothecary,  a  retailer,  a  skipper,  and  a  jockey. 
Under  pretence  of  bankruptcy,  he  committed  perjury 
with  the  view  of  defrauding  his  creditors.  But  his 
mind  was  formed  for  bold  and  desperate  enterprize, 
and  he  was  chosen  captain  of  a  militia  company  of 
volunteers,  and  on  hearing  of  the  battle  at  Lexington, 
he  marched  with  his  company  and  arrived  at  head 
quarters,  at  Cambridge,  about  the  last  of  April,  1775, 
where  he  was  promoted  to  a  Colonel.  He  immedi 
ately  repaired  to  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Champlain, 
and  united  with  Colonel  Allen  and  his  party,  who 
were  preparing  to  execute  their  plan  for  taking  pos 
session  of  the  British  garrison  at  Ticonderoga.  This 
enterprize,  was  crowned  with  success,  without  blood 
shed,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  valuable  ordnance 
and  munitions  of  war  was  taken,  for  the  use  of  our 
army.  After  which,  he  proceeded  down  the  lake  to 
St.  John's  in  a  small  schooner,  and  seized  by  sur 
prize,  an  armed  sloop  of  superior  force,  which  he 
brought  off  with  several  prisoners.  In  September 
following,  Colonel  Arnold  was  invested  with  the 
command  of  eleven  hundred  men,  destined  on  a  very 
extraordinary  and  arduous  expedition,  no  less  than 
penetrating  through  the  unexplored  wilderness  to 
Quebec,  by  the  route  of  Kennebec  river.  Colonel 
Burr,  late  vice  president  of  the  United  States,  was 
with  this  party.  The  expedition  was  attended  by 
the  most  distressing  circumstances  which  can  be 
imagined,  during  which  Arnold  conducted  with 
unexampled  resolution,  and  the  soldiers  exercised 
the  greatest  fortitude  and  patience,  and  accomplished 


568  APPENDIX. 

an  undertaking  almost  incredible.  The  men  were 
obliged  to  drag  their  batteaux  over  falls,  up  rapid 
streams,  over  carrying  places,  and  to  march  through 
morasses,  thick  woods,  and  over  mountains  for  about 
three  hundred  and  twenty  miles.  A  part  of  the 
detachment  consisting  of  about  three  hundred  men, 
under  Colonel  Enos,  returned  to  Cambridge  to  avoid 
absolute  starvation  in  the  wilderness.  Some  of  those 
who  persevered  were  compelled  to  feed  on  dogs, 
which  they  devoured  without  sparing  legs  or  skin, 
and  also  their  cartridge  boxes,  leather  breeches 
and  shoes.  Colonel  Arnold  appears  to  have  de 
feated  his  own  object,  by  an  imprudent  act.  He 
entrusted  to  a  transient  Indian,  a  letter  to  a  friend 
in  Quebec  ;  the  Indian  betrayed  his  trust,  and  de 
livered  the  letter  to  the  British  commandant,  who 
immediately  adopted  measures  for  defence,  and  to 
oppose  their  march.  In  December,  1775,  Colonel 
Arnold  having  reached  the  vicinity  of  Quebec,  was 
second  in  command  under  General  Montgomery, 
and  led  a  party  in  the  boldest  and  most  spirited 
manner  to  the  attack  of  the  city  of  Quebec,  by 
escalade,  where  he  received  a  wound  by  a  musket 
ball  in  his  leg,  and  the  brave  Montgomery  was  slain. 
In  January,  1776,  Arnold  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  brigadier,  and  had  the  command  of  the  miserable 
remains  of  our  army,  and  retreated  to  Crown  Point. 
He  took  from  merchants,  at  Montreal,  goods  to  a 
very  considerable  amount,  under  circumstances  which 
implicated  his  honor  and  character.  He  ordered 
Colonel  Hazen  to  take  charge  of  the  goods,  but  con 
ceiving  that  they  were  taken  unjustly  from  the  pro 
prietors,  he  refused  to  comply.  On  the  retreat  of 
the  army,  part  of  the  goods  were  pillaged,  in  conse 
quence  of  which,  Colonel  Hazen  was  subjected  to  a 
trial,  but  was  honorably  acquitted.  This  affair  ex 
cited  much  indignation  among  several  respectable 
officers,  who  having  received  abusive  treatment  from 
Arnold,  demanded  of  General  Gates,  who  now  com- 


APPENDIX.  569 

manded  in  chief,  that  he  should  be  arrested  and 
brought  to  trial ;  but  Gates  viewing  him  as  a  brave 
and  valuable  officer,  was  determined  that  he  should 
command  our  fleet  on  lake  Cham  plain,  and  therefore 
waved  all  complaints  exhibited  against  him.  After 
Arnold  was  invested  with  the  command  of  our  fleet, 
Sir  Guy  Carleton  proceeded  up  lake  Cham  plain  with 
a  superior  force,  and  a  furious  contest  ensued.  No 
man  could  have  conducted  with  more  intrepid 
bravery,  than  did  General  Arnold.  By  his  valorous 
conduct  he  acquired  the  highest  applause  ;  but  being 
overpowered,  he  was  obliged  to  retreat  with  the 
Congress  galley,  which  he  commanded,  and  four  gon 
dolas  which  he  ran  on  shore  and  blew  up  in  despite  of 
every  effort  of  the  enemy  to  prevent  it.  He  even 
displayed  a  nice  point  of  honor  in  keeping  his  flag  fly 
ing,  and  not  quitting  his  galley  till  she  was  in  flames, 
that  the  enemy  should  not  board  and  strike  the  Amer 
ican  flag.  In  April,  1777,  General  Tryon  commanded 
an  expedition  from  New  York,  consisting  of  about 
two  thousand  men,  to  destroy  a  deposit  of  stores  at 
Danbury,  in  Connecticut.  General  Arnold  by  a 
forced  march  reached  the  scene  of  action,  and  with 
his  usual  impetuosity  engaged  the  enemy,  and  when 
within  a  few  yards  a  whole  platoon  was  leveled  at 
him,  by  which  his  horse  was  killed  ;  a  soldier  was 
advancing  to  thrust  his  bayonet  through  him,  when 
with  great  presence  of  mind  he  took  his  pistols  from 
his  holsters  and  shot  him  down.  Having  mounted 
another  horse,  that  also  was  shot  through  his  neck. 
Congress  resolved,  that  a  horse  properly  caparisoned 
be  presented  to  General  Arnold,  as  a  token  of  their 
approbation  of  his  gallant  conduct,  in  which  he  had 
one  horse  killed  and  another  wounded.  In  May  fol 
lowing,  he  was  created  a  major  general.  When  in 
August,  1777,  General  St.  Leger  invested  Fort 
Stanwix,  General  Arnold  marched  at  the  head  of  a 
detachment  from  Fort  Edward,  to  raise  the  siege, 
but  the  enemy  alarmed  at  his  approach,  abandoned 
72 


570  APPENDIX. 

the  enterprize  before  his  arrival.  In  September  a 
serious  difference  took  place  between  him  and  Gen 
eral  Gates,  who  commanded  our  army  at  Saratoga. 
A  conscious  superiority  on  one  side,  and  an  arrogant 
temper  on  the  other,  sufliced  to  render  the  conten 
tion  almost  irreconcilable.  The  consequence  was,  that 
ArnoM  in  a  rage  requested  to  be  discharged  from 
under  the  command  of  General  Gates,  and  the  latter 
immediately  gave  him  a  passport  to  repair  to  General 
Washington's  head  quarters,  though  a  battle  with 
Burgoyne  was  daily  expected.  He  postponed  his 
departure  however,  till  the  sanguinary  conflict  at 
Bemis's  heights  commenced,  October  7th,  when  he 
betrayed  great  agitation  and  wrath,  rushing  into  the 
field  of  battle,  and  acting  the  part  of  a  desperado, 
he  exposed  himself  in  the  most  rash,  and  intemperate 
manner.  In  the  heat  of  the  action,  when  our  troops 
were  gaining  advantage,  General  Arnold  ordered 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Brooks,  at  the  head  of  his  regi 
ment,  to  force  the  German  lines,  which  was  instantly 
obeyed,  and  they  boldly  entered  at  the  sallyport 
together,  where  Arnold  received  a  wound  in  his  leg, 
and  his  horse  was  killed  under  him.  He  had  so  little 
control  of  his  mind,  that  while  brandishing  his  sword 
in  animating  the  officers  and  soldiers,  he  struck  Cap 
tain  Pettingill  and  Captain  Brown,  and  wounded  one 
of  them  on  his  head,  without  assigning  any  cause. 
These  gentlemen,  the  next  day  requested  Colonel 
Brooks  to  accompany  them  to  Arnold's  quarters,  to 
demand  an  explanation ;  he  disavowed  all  recollec 
tion  of  the  fact,  and  denied  that  he  had  struck  an 
officer,  but  when  convinced  of  it,  readily  offered  the 
required  apology.  It  is  but  justice  to  confess,  that 
by  his  military  frenzy,  or  romantic  heroism,  Arnold 
contributed  to  the  honor  and  success  of  the  day. 
General  Washington  had  a  high  sense  of  his  gallantry, 
and  presented  him  a  pair  of  elegant  pistols.  After 
the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia,  by  the  British  army, 
General  Arnold  was  entrusted  with  the  command  in 


APPENDIX.  571 

that  city.     Here  his  display  of  connubial  gallantry* 

as  in  the  field  his  martial  spirit,  was  crowned  with 
honor  and  success.  His  addresses  were  auspiciously 
received,  and  he  was  honored  with  the  hand  of  the 
then  celebrated  Miss  Shippen,  one  of  the  most 
elegant  and  accomplished  ladies  in  the  city,  but  of  a 
tory  family.  His  whole  soul  now  appeared  to  be 
engaged  in  the  promotion  of  his  own  interest  and 
aggrandizement.  He  occupied  the  house  of  Gov 
ernor  Penn,  the  best  in  the  city,  and  this  he  fur 
nished  in  a  rich  arid  splendid  style.  His  carriage 
and  equipage  were  equally  splendid,  and  he  rioted 
in  the  luxury  and  pageantry  of  a  nobleman.  "Proud 
of  the  trappings  of  office,  and  ambitious  of  an  osten 
tatious  display  of  wealth  and  greatness,  the  certain, 
mark  of  a  narrow  mind,  he  had  wasted  the  plunder 
acquired  at  Montreal,  where  his  conduct  had  been 
remarkably  reprehensible,  and  had  dissipated  the  rich 
harvest  of  peculation,  he  had  reaped  at  Philadelphia, 
where  his  rapacity  had  no  bounds.  He  deliberately 
seized  every  thing  he  could  lay  his  hands  on  in  the 
city,  to  which  he  could  affix  an  idea  that  it  had  been 
the  property  of  the  disaffected  party,  and  converted 
it  to  his  own  use."  * 

Unmindful  of  his  military  station,  he  engaged  in 
various  speculations  and  in  privateering,  in  both  of 
which,  he  was  unfortunate.  He  made  exorbitant  de 
mands  on  government,  in  compensation  for  public  ser 
vices,  and  made  bitter  complaints  against  Congress, 
pretending  that  he  suffered  injustice  from  their  hands. 
The  commissioners,  appointed  to  liquidate  his  ac 
counts,  rejected  a  large  proportion  of  his  demands 
as  being  unjust  and  unfounded,  and  for  which  he 
deserved  severe  reprehension.  He  was  charged, 
by  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  with  gross  acts  of 
extortion,  and  of  peculating  on  the  public  funds ;  and 
he  was  at  length  so  notorious  for  his  follies  and  vices, 

*  History  of  the  American  Revolution,  by  Mrs.  M.  Warren. 


572  APPENDIX. 

and  so  audacious  in  his  reproaches  against  what  he 
termed  the  ingratitude  of  his  country,  that  the  gen 
eral  voice  demanded  an  investigation  of  his  conduct. 
The  government  of  Pennsylvania,  as  well  as  many 
respectable  citizens  exhibited  formal  charges  against 
him,  and  Congress  directed  that  he  should  be  arrest 
ed,  and  tried  by  a  court  martial.  He  was  sentenced 
to  be  reprimanded  by  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
which  being  approved  by  Congress,  was  carried  into 
execution  accordingly.  The  emoluments  of  his  office, 
with  all  his  embezzlements,  proved  inadequate  to  his 
exigencies,  and  his  funds  being  exhausted,  he  was 
unable  to  meet  the  demands  of  his  creditors.  Thus 
he  evinced  a  mind,  destitute  of  both  moral  principle 
and  political  integrity.  Rebuffed  and  mortified  in 
his  vicious  pursuits,  he  became  soured  and  disaffected 
to  our  government  and  cause,  and  the  most  malev 
olent  and  rancorous  spirit  agitated  his  unprincipled 
bosom,  restrained  by  a  want  of  opportunity  to  indulge 
his  revenge.  At  the  opening  of  the  campaign  in  June, 
1780,  the  Commander  in  Chief  offered  him  the  com 
mand  of  the  left  wing  of  our  army,  to  which  his  rank 
entitled  him,  but  this  he  declined  under  the  pretext 
that  the  wound  which  he  received  at  Saratoga,  ren 
dered  him  incapable  of  active  service  in  the  field. 
He  solicited  the  station  of  commander  of  the  garrison 
at  West  Point,  and  in  this  request  he  was  indulged 
by  the  Commander  in  Chief,  who  still  had  confidence 
in  him  as  a  military  officer.  He  was  now  invested 
with  a  situation  which  furnished  him  with  the  medi 
tated  opportunity  of  executing  his  treasonable  pur 
pose,  and  avenging  himself  on  his  country,  and  the 
glorious  cause  of  freedom.  He  engaged  in  a  secret 
correspondence  with  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  actually 
agreed  to  put  him  in  possession  of  the  important 
garrison  at  West  Point. 

The  British  general  appreciating  the  importance 
of  the  acquisition,  immediately  closed  with  him  for  the 
stipulated  sum  of  ten  thousand  pounds  sterling,  and 


APPENDIX.  573 

sent  Major  John  Andre,  his  adjutant  general  and  aid 
de  camp,  to  negotiate  the  arrangement  for  the  sur 
render  of  the  post.  A  British  sloop  of  war,  called 
the  Vulture,  conveyed  him  up  the  North  river  with 
in  twelve  miles  of  West  Point,  and  in  the  night  of 
the  21st  of  September,  1780,  by  direction  of  Gen 
eral  Arnold,  this  gentleman  was  brought  on  shore 
under  the  fictitious  name  of  John  Anderson.  Ar 
nold  received  him  on  the  beach  and  conducted  him 
to  the  house  of  Joshua  Smith,  within  our  lines,  and 
the  night  was  spent  in  ripening  the  infamous  plot 
for  execution.  The  following  night  it  was  attempted 
to  reconduct  him  on  board  the  Vulture,  but  the 
boatmen  who  had  been  seduced  to  bring  him  on 
shore,  utterly  refused  to  perform  the  service,  and  a 
return  to  New  York  by  land,  was  the  only  alterna 
tive.  Arnold  furnished  him  with  numerous  papers 
containing  all  the  necessary  information  respecting 
the  garrison,  and  a  passport,  naming  him  John 
Anderson,  on  public  business,  with  which  he  pro 
ceeded  on  his  journey. 

Having  reached  Tarritown,  on  his  route,  Andre 
was  suddenly  arrested  by  three  militia  men,  who 
finding  the  above  mentioned  papers,  concealed  in  his 
boots,  immediately  delivered  them  into  the  hands  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Jameson,  the  commanding  officer 
on  our  lines.  With  the  view  of  giving  Arnold  aiv 
opportunity  to  escape,  Andre  had  the  address  to 
induce  Colonel  Jameson  to  inform  him  by  letter, 
that  John  Anderson  was  taken  on  his  way  to  New 
York.  On  this  being  received  by  express,  the 
guilty  traitor  struck  with  the  pressing  danger  of  his 
situation,  instantly  informed  his  wife  that  he  had  re 
ceived  some  letters,  which  obliged  him  to  flee  his 
country  forever,  and  desired  her  to  retire,  and  re 
main  in  her  chamber.  He  now  called  earnestly  for 
a  horse,  and  mounted  the  first  that  presented,  and 
instead  of  the  usual  path,  he  took  a  shorter  route, 
riding  down  a  very  steep  and  dangerous  precipice, 


574  APPENDIX. 

to  the  landing.  This  has  since  been  called  "  Traitors 
Hill."  The  barge -being  in  readiness,  he  sprang 
into  it,  and  ordered  the  boatmen  to  proceed  down 
the  river,  and  he  was  soon  on  board  the  Vulture, 
which  Andre  two  nights  before  had  left,  and  which 
immediately  sailed  with  their  prize  for  New  York. 
Arnold  was  apprized  that  General  Washington,  being 
on  his  return  from  a  journey  to  Hartford,  intended 
to  visit  him  that  day,  and  he  was  momentarily  ex 
pected  ;  accordingly  his  Excellency  arrived  soon 
after  Arnold  had  absconded,  and  not  finding  him  at  his 
quarters  he  passed  over  the  river  to  West  Point,  to 
view  the  works,  and  with  the  expectation  of  finding 
him  at  his  post,  but  being  disappointed  he  returned 
to  Arnold's  quarters,  where  he  still  found  that  no 
one  could  account  for  his  absence.  But  in  a  few 
hours  despatches  arrived  from  Colonel  Jameson  an 
nouncing  the  capture  of  Major  Andre,  and  this  was 
accompanied  by  his  own  letter  of  confession.  The 
mysterious  affair  was  now  developed.  Arnold's 
treason  and  elopement  admitted  at  once  of  explana 
tion.  An  officer  was  immediately,  sent  to  our  fort 
at  Verplank's  Point  with  orders  to  fire  at  Arnold's 
barge,  but  it  was  too  late,  she  had  already  reached 
the  Vulture.  In  about  an  hour  and  a  half  after  Ar 
nold  had  absconded,  Dr.  Eustis,  who  had  charge  of 
the  hospital  in  the  vicinity,  was  called  to  the  assis 
tance  of  Mrs.  Arnold  whose  situation  was  alarming. 
He  found  her  at  the  head  of  the  stair  case,  in  great 
dishabille,  her  hair  disheveled,  knowing  no  one,  and 
frantic  in  the  arms  of  her  maid,  and  Arnold's  two 
aids,  struggling  to  liberate  herself  from  them.  She 
was  carried  back  to  her  chamber,  and  fell  into  con 
vulsions,  which  lasted  several  hours.  In  a  lucid 
interval  she  inquired  of  the  Doctor,  if  General  Wash 
ington  was  in  the  house,  expressing  a  wish  to  see 
him.  Believing  that  she  intended  to  say  something 
which  would  explain  the  secret  of  Arnold's  unac 
countable  absence,  he  hastened  below,  gave  notice  of 


APPENDIX.  575 

her  request,  and  conducted  the  general  to  her 
chamber,  who  remained  no  longer  than  to  hear  her 
deny  that  he  was  General  Washington,  and  to  wit 
ness  the  return  of  her  distraction.  When  Arnold 
deserted  his  post,  a  corporal,  by  name  James  Lur- 
vey,  was  the  cockswain  of  his  barge.  After  their 
arrival  on  board  the  Vulture,  and  Arnold  had  held 
an  interview  with  the  officers  in  the  cabin,  he  came 
on  deck  and  said  to  his  bargemen,  "  My  lads,  I  have 
quitted  the  rebel  army,  and  joined  the  standard  of 
his  Britannic  Majesty,  if  you  will  join  me,  I  will 
make  sergeants  and  corporals  of  you  all,  and  for  you 
James,  I  will  do  something  more."  Indignant  at 
the  offer,  Lurvey  promptly  replied,  "  No  Sir,  one 
coat  is  enough  for  me  to  wear  at  a  time."  A  wor 
thy  example  of  fidelity  in  the  corporal,  and  a  cut 
ting  sarcasm  on  the  guilty  traitor.  Two  only  of  the 
crew  remained,  and  they  were  British  deserters,  the 
brave  corporal  with  the  remainder  of  the  men  re 
turned,  not  however  in  the  barge ;  Arnold  had  the 
meanness  to  retain  that  for  his  own  use,  and  gave 
them  a  miserable  boat  in  exchange. 

After  his  arrival  on  board  the  Vulture,  he  address 
ed  to  General  Washington  the  following  letter. 

«  On  board  the  Vulture,  September  25th,  1780. 

SIR, — "  The  heart  which  is  conscious  of  its  own 
rectitude,  cannot  attempt  to  palliate  a  step  which  the 
world  may  censure  as  wrong  ;  I  have  ever  acted 
from  a  principle  of  love  to  my  country,  since  the 
commencement  of  the  present  unhappy  contest  be 
tween  Great  Britain  and  the  colonies ;  the  same 
principle  of  love  to  my  country  actuates  my  present 
conduct,  however  it  may  appear  inconsistent  to  the 
world,  who  very  seldom  judge  right  of  any  man's 
actions. 

"  I  have  no  favor  to  ask  for  myself;  I  have  too 
often  experienced  the  ingratitude  of  my  country  to 
attempt  it ;  but  from  the  known  humanity  of  your 


576  APPENDIX. 

Excellency,  I  am  induced  to  ask  your  protection  for 
Mrs.  Arnold,  from  every  insult  and  injury  that  the 
mistaken  vengeance  of  my  country,  may  expose  her 
to.  It  ought  to  fall  only  on  me,  she  is  as  good  and 
as  innocent  as  an  angel,  and  is  incapable  of  doing 
wrong.  I  beg  she  may  be  permitted  to  return  to  her 
friends  in  Philadelphia,  or  to  come  to  me,  as  she 
may  choose ;  from  your  Excellency  I  have  no  fears 
on  her  account,  but  she  may  suffer  from  the  mistaken 
fury  of  the  country. 

66 1  have  to  request  that  the  enclosed  letter  may  be 
delivered  to  Mrs.  Arnold,  and  she  permitted  to 
write  to  me. 

"I  have  also  to  ask   that  my  clothes  and  baggage 
which  are  of  little  consequence,  may  be  sent  to  me, — 
if  required,  their  value  shall  be  paid  in  money. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

With  great  regard  and  esteem, 

Your  Excellency's  most  obedient  humble  servant. 

B.  ARNOLD. 
His  Excellency  General  Washington." 

N.  B.  In  justice  to  the  gentlemen  of  my  family, 
Colonel  Varrick,  and  Major  Frank,  I  think  myself 
in  honor  bound  to  declare,  that  they  as  well  as  Joshua 
Smith,  Esquire,  who  I  know  is  suspected,  are  totally 
ignorant  of  any  transactions  of  mine  that  they  had 
reason  to  believe  were  injurious  to  the  public. 

Mrs.  Arnold  was  permitted  to  go  unmolested  to 
her  husband  at  New  York,  and  to  take  her  chariot 
with  her.  Arnold  had  the  audacity  to  remonstrate 
to  General  Washington  against  the  execution  of 
Major  Andre,  and  to  attempt  to  intimidate  him  by 
threats  of  retaliation,  should  the  unfortunate  prisoner 
suffer ;  but  his  Excellency  treated  both  the  traitor 
and  his  affrontive  letters  with  sovereign  contempt. 
He  next  published  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  in  which  he  pretended  to  ascribe  his 
defection  from  the  American  cause  to  principle,  of 


APPENDIX.  577 

which  it  is  well  known  that  he  ever  has  been  desti 
tute.     He  attempts  to  vindicate  his  conduct  by  the 
ridiculous  pretence  that  he  was  actuated  by  motives 
favorable  to  the  interests  of  his  country  by  bringing 
the    war  to  a  speedy   termination,  as   though    the 
destiny  of  America  was  doomed  to  be  at  his  disposal, 
and  that  he  was  authorized   to   decide   the  fate  of 
millions.     In  his  artful  address  he  labored  to  palliate 
his  own  guilt  and  to  influence  others  to  follow  his 
vile  example.     He  execrated  with  peculiar  bitterness 
our  alliance  with  France,  and  accused  Congress  of 
tyranny  and  usurpation,  and  a  total  disregard  of  the 
interest  and  welfare  of  the  people.     Not  satisfied 
with   this  insidious  appeal  to  the  people,    he   ad 
dressed  by  proclamation  "  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
the  continental  army  who   had  the  real  interest  of 
their  country  at  heart,  and  who  were  determined  to 
be  no  longer  the  tools  and  dupes  of  Congress  or  of 
France."     As  inducement  to  the  xA.merican  officers 
and  soldiers  to  desert  the  cause  which  they  had  em 
braced,  he  represented  that  the  corps  of  cavalry  and 
infantry  which  he  was  authorized  to  raise,  would  be 
on  the  same  footing  with  the  other  troops  in  the 
British  service  ;  that  he  would  with  pleasure  advance 
ttiose  whose  valor  he  had  witnessed,   and   that  the 
private  men  who  might  join  him,   should  receive  a 
bounty  of  three  guineas  each,   besides  payment  at 
their  full  value,  for  horses,  arms  and  accoutrements. 
He  endeavored  to  paint  in  lively  colors  the  deplora 
ble  condition  of  our  country,  and  to  reprobate  our 
Congress  as  oppressors,  and  their  authority  as  tyran 
nical.     "You   are  promised  liberty,"   lie  exclaims, 
"  but  is  there  an  individual  in  the  enjoyment  of  itr 
saving  your  oppressors?  Who  among  you  dare  speak 
or  write  what  he   thinks  against  the  tyranny  which 
has  robbed  you  of  your  property,  imprisons  your 
pei'sons,  drags  you  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  is  daily 
deluging  your  country  with  your  blood  ?"    Again, 
"what  is  America  now  but  a  land  of  widows,  orphans 
73 


578  APPENDIX. 

and  beggars  ?  As  to  you  who  have  been  soldiers  in 
the  continental  army,  can  you  at  this  day  want  evidence 
that  the  funds  of  your  country  are  exhausted,  or  that 
the  managers  have  applied  them  to  their  own  private 
uses  ?  In  either  case,  you  surely  can  no  longer  con 
tinue  in  their  service  with  honor  and  advantage. 
Yet  you  have  hitherto  been  their  supporters  in  that 
cruelty  which,  with  an  equal  indifference  to  yours  as 
well  as  to  the  labor  and  blood  of  others,  is  devour 
ing  a  country  that  from  the  moment  you  quit  their 
colors  will  be  redeemed  from  their  tyranny."  These 
proclamations  failed  of  the  effect  which  they  were 
designed  to  produce,  arid  notwithstanding  all  the 
hardships,  sufferings  and  irritations  which  the  Ame 
ricans  were  called  to  encounter,  "  Arnold  remains 
the  solitary  instance  of  an  American  officer  who 
abandoned  the  side  first  embraced  in  the  contest  and 
turned  his  sword  on  his  former  companions  in  arms." 
"  I  am  mistaken,"  says  Washington  in  a  letter  to  a 
friend,  "  if  at  this  time  Arnold  is  undergoing  the 
torments  of  a  mental  hell.  From  some  traits  of  his 
character  which  have  lately  come  to  my  knowledge, 
he  seems  to  have  been  so  hacknied  in  crime  ;  so  lost 
to  all  sense  of  honor  and  shame,  that  while  his  facul 
ties  still  enable  him  to  continue  his  sordid  pursuits, 
there  will  be  no  time  for  remorse."  "  This  man," 
says  Hamilton,  "  is  in  every  sense  despicable.  In 
addition  to  the  scene  of  knavery  and  prostitution 
during  his  command  at  Philadelphia,  which  the  late 
seizure  of  his  papers  has  unfolded,  the  history  of  his 
command  at  West  Point  is  a  history  of  little  as  well 
as  of  great  villanies.  He  practised  every  dirty  act  of 
peculation,  and  even  stooped  to  connexions  with  the 
sutlers  of  the  garrison  to  defraud  the  public."  A 
respectable  officer,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  speaks  of 
Arnold  in  the  following  language.  "  It  is  not  possi 
ble  for  human  nature  to  receive  a  greater  quantity 
of  guilt  than  he  possesses.  Perhaps  there  is  not  a 
single  obligation,  moral  or  divine,  but  what  he  has 


APPENDIX.  579 

broken  through.  It  is  discovered  now,  that  in  his 
EIOSI  oarly  infancy,  hell  marked  him  for  her  own,  and 
infused  into  him  a  full  proportion  of  her  own  malice. 
His  late  apostacy  is  the  summit  of  his  character.  .  He 
be-^an  his  negotiations  with  the  enemy,  to  deliver  up 
West  Point  to  them,  long  before  he  was  invested  with 
the  command  of  it,  and  whilst  he  was  still  in  Phila 
delphia  ;  after  which,  he  solicited  the  command  of 
that  post  from  the  ostensible  cause  that  the  wound 
in  his  leg  incapacitated  him  for  an  active  command 
in  the  field."  His  papers  contain  the  most  authentic 
and  incontestable  proofs  of  his  crime,  and  that  he  re 
garded  his  important  employments  only  as  affording 
him  opportunities  to  pillage  the  public  with  impunity. 
The  crimes  of  this  unprincipled  conspirator  are  thus 
summed  up.  Treason,  avarice,  hypocrisy,  ingrati 
tude,  barbarity,  falsehood,  deception,  peculation  and 
robbery.  He  aimed  to  plunge  a  dagger  into  the 
bosom  of  his  country,  which  had  raised  him  from  the 
obscurity  in  which  he  was  born,  to  honors  which 
never  could  have  been  the  object  even  of  his  hopes. 
He  robbed  his  country  at  the  time  of  her  deepest 
distress,  having  directed  his  wife  to  draw  all  she 
could  from  the  commissaries'  store,  and  sell  or  store  itj 
though  at  a  time  when  the  army  was  destitute  of  pro 
visions.  He  robbed  the  soldiers  when  they  were  in 
want  of  necessaries  and  defrauded  his  own  best  friends 
who  trusted  and  had  rendered  him  the  most  essential 
services.  He  spoke  contemptuously  of  our  allies, 
the  French,  and  his  illiberal  abuse  of  every  character 
opposed  to  his  fraudulent  and  wicked  transactions 
exceeds  all  description.  For  the  sake  of  human 
nature  it  were  to  be  wished  that  a  veil  could  forever 
be  thrown  over  such  a  vile  example  of  depravity 
and  wickedness.  An  effigy  of  ArnoH,  large  as  life, 
was  constructed  by  an  artist  at  Philadelphia  and  seat 
ed  in  a  cart,  with  the  figure  of  the  devil  at  his  elbow, 
holding  a  lantern  up  to  the  face  of  the  traitor  to 
show  him  to  the  people,  having  his  name  and  crime 


580  APPENDIX. 

in  capital  letters.  The  cart  was  paraded  the  whole 
evening  through  the  streets  of  the  city  with  drums 
and  fifes  playing  the  rogue's  march,  with  other  marks 
of  infamy,  and  was  attended  by  a  vast  concourse  of 
people.  The  effigy  was  finally  hanged  for  the  want 
of  the  original,  and  then  committed  to  the  flames. 
Yet  this  is  the  man  on  whom  the  British  have  be 
stowed  ten  thousand  pounds  sterling  as  the  price  of 
his  treason,  and  appointed  to  the  rank  of  brigadier 
general  in  their  service.  It  could  scarcely  be  im 
agined  that  there  was  an  officer  of  honor  left  in  that 
army,  who  would  debase  himself  and  his  commission 
by  serving  under  or  ranking  with  Benedict  Arnold  ! 
In  January,  1781,  Arnold  was  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
invested  with  the  command  of  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  men,  supported  by  a  naval  force,  on  an  ex 
pedition  to  Virginia,  where  he  committed  extensive 
ravages  on  the  rivers  and  along  the  unprotected  coast, 
plundering  the  plantations  to  the  extent  of  his  power. 
According  to  report  he  shipped  off  a  cargo  of  negroes, 
which  he  had  stolen,  to  Jamaica,  and  sold  them  for  his 
own  emolument.  Having  taken  an  American  captain 
prisoner,  he  inquired  of  him,  what  the  Americans 
would  do  with  him  if  he  should  fall  into  their  hands  ; 
the  officer  replied,  they  would  cut  off  the  leg  that  was 
wounded  at  Saratoga  and  bury  it  with  the  honors  of 
war,  and  hang  the  remainder  of  his  body  on  a  gib 
bet.  In  September,  1781,  Arnold  was  again  vested 
with  a  command  and  sent  on  a  predatory  expedition 
against  New  London,  in  Connecticut,  his  native  state. 
After  taking  possession  of  the  fort,  they  made  a  mer 
ciless  slaughter  of  the  men  who  defended  it,  and 
destroyed  an  immense  quantity  of  provisions,  stores 
and  shipping  ;  sixty  dwelling  houses  and  eighty  four 
stores  were  destroyed,  and  about  one  hundred  inhabi 
tants  were  deprived  of  their  habitations  and  most  of 
them  of  their  all.  This  terminated  the  career  of 
this  monster  of  wickedness  in  America.  At  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  accompanied  the  royal  army  to 


APPENDIX.  581 

England.  "The  contempt  that  followed  him  through 
life/'  says  a  late  elegant  writer,*  6(  is  farther  illus 
trated  by  the  speech  of  the  present  Lord  Lauderdale, 
who,  perceiving  Arnold  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
king,  and  near  his  person,  as  he  addressed  his  par 
liament,  declared,  on  his  return  to  the  commons,  that 
however  gracious  the  language  he  had  heard  from 
the  throne,  his  indignation  could  not  but  be  highly 
excited,  at  beholding  as  he  had  done,  his  majesty  sup 
ported  by  a  traitor."  tf  And  on  another  occasion, 
Lord  Surry,  since  duke  of  Norfolk,  rising  to  speak 
in  the  house  of  commons,  and  perceiving  Arnold  in 
the  gallery,  sat  down  with  precipitation,  exclaiming, 
*  I  will  not  speak  while  that  man,  pointing  to  him, 
is  in  the  house.' ' 

He  purchased  in  England  a  quantity  of  goods 
which  he  brought  over  to  New  Brunswick,  the  store 
and  goods  took  lire,  and  the  whole  were  consumed  ; 
but  according  to  report  they  were  insured  to  a  much 
greater  amount  than  their  real  value.  After  this 
event  no  further  laurels  remained  for  him  to  achieve ; 
he  recrossed  the  Atlantic  and  died  in  London,  June 
14th,  1801. 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  GENERAL  AW0JT. 

Among  those  of  our  countrymen,  who  most  zealous 
ly  engaged  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  few  sustained  a  rank 
more  deservedly  conspicuous,  than  General  Knox. 
He  was  one  of  those  heroes,  of  whom  it  may  be  truly 
said,  that  he  lived  for  his  country. 

The  ardor  of  his  youth  and  the  vigor  of  his  man 
hood  were  devoted  to  acquiring  its  liberty,  and  es 
tablishing  its  prosperity.  Born  in  Boston,  July,  1750, 

*  Alexander  Garden,  Esquire-     Anecdotes  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 


582  APPENDIX. 

his  childhood  and  youth  were  employed  in  obtaining 
the  best  education,  that  the  justly  celebrated  schools 
of  his  native  town  afforded.  In  very  early  life  he 
opened  a  book  store,  for  the  enlargement  of  which 
he  soon  formed  an  extensive  correspondence  in  Eu 
rope — but  little  time  elapsed  before,  at  the  call  of  his 
country,  he  relinquished  this  lucrative  and  increas 
ing  business.  Indebted  to  no  adventitious  aid,  his 
character  was  formed  by  himself;  the  native  and 
vigorous  principles  of  his  own  mind  made  him  what 
he  was.  Distinguished  among  his  associates,  from 
the  first  dawn  of  manhood,  for  a  decided  predilec 
tion  to  martial  exercises,  he  was  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
selected  by  the  young  men  of  Boston  as  one  of  the 
oflicers  of  a  company  of  grenadiers — a  company  so 
distinguished  for  its  martial  appearance,  and  the  pre 
cision  of  its  evolutions,  that  it  received  the  most 
flattering  encomium,  from  a  British  officer  of  high 
distinction. 

This  early  scene  of  his  military  labors,  served  but 
as  a  school  for  that  distinguished  talent  which  after 
ward  shone  with  lustre,  in  the  most  brilliant  cam 
paigns  of  an  eight  years  war;  through  the  whole  of 
which,  he  directed  the  artillery  with  consummate 
skill  and  bravery. 

His  heart  was  deeply  engaged  in  the  cause  of 
freedom ;  he  felt  it  to  be  a  righteous  cause,  and  to 
its  accomplishment  yielded  every  other  consideration. 
When  Britain  declared  hostilities,  he  hesitated  not 
a  moment,  what  course  he  should  pursue.  No  sor 
did  calculation  of  interest  retarded  his  decision. 
The  quiet  of  domestic  life,  the  fair  prospect  of  in 
creasing  wealth,  and  even  the  endearing  claims  of 
family  and  friends,  though  urged  with  the  most  per 
suasive  eloquence,  had  no  power  to  divert  the  de 
termined  purpose  of  his  mind. 

In  the  early  stages  of  British  hostility,  though  not 
in  commission,  he  was  not  an  inactive  spectator.  At 
the  battle  of  Bunker  hill,  as  a  volunteer  he  was  con- 


APPENDIX.  583 

stantly  exposed  to  danger,  in  reconnoitering  the 
movements  of  the  enemy,  and  his  ardent  mind  was 
engaged  with  others  in  preparing  those  measures  that 
were  ultimately  to  dislodge  the  British  troops,  from 
their  boasted  possession  of  the  capital  of  New  Eng 
land. 

Scarcely  had  we  began  to  feel  the  aggressions  of  the 
British  arms,  before  it  was  perceived,  that  without 
artillery,  of  which  we  were  then  destitute,  the  most 
important  objects  of  the  war  could  not  be  accom 
plished.  No  resource  presented  itself,  but  the  des 
perate  expedient  of  procuring  it  from  the  Canadian 
frontier.  To  attempt  this,  in  the  agitated  state  of 
the  country,  through  a  wide  extent  of  wilderness, 
was  an  enterprize  so  replete  with  toil  and  danger, 
that  it  was  hardly  expected  any  one  would  be  found 
hardy  enough  to  encounter  its  perils.  Knox  how 
ever  saw  the  importance  of  the  object — he  saw  his 
country  bleeding  at  every  pore,  without  the  power 
of  repelling  her  invaders — he  saw  the  flourishing 
Capital  of  the  North  in  the  possession  of  an  exulting 
enemy,  that  we  were  destitute  of  the  means  essential 
to  their  annoyance,  and  formed  the  daring  and  gen 
erous  resolution  of  supplying  the  army  with  ordnance 
however  formidable  the  obstacles  that  might  oppose 
him.  Young,  robust  and  vigorous,  supported  by 
an  undaunted  spirit,  and  a  mind  ever  fruitful  in 
resources,  he  commenced  his  mighty  undertaking, 
almost  unattended,  in  the  winter  of  1775,  relying 
solely  for  the  execution  of  his  object,  on  such  aid  as 
he  might  procure,  from  the  thinly  scattered  inhab 
itants  of  the  dreary  region,  through  which  he  had  to 
pass.  Every  obstacle  of  season,  roads  and  climate 
were  surmounted  by  determined  perseverance  ; — 
and  a  few  weeks,  scarcely  sufficient  for  a  journey 
so  remote,  saw  him  return  laden  with  ordnance  and 
the  stores  of  war — drawn  in  defiance  of  every  ob 
stacle  over  the  frozen  lakes  and  mountains  of  the 
north.  Most  acceptable  was  this  offering  to  our 


584  APPENDIX. 

defenceless  troops,  and  most  welcome  to  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief,  who  well  knew  how  to  appreciate 
a  service  so  important.  This  expedition  stamped  the 
character  of  him  who  performed  it  for  deeds  of  en- 
terprize  and  daring — He  received  the  most  flat 
tering  testimony  of  approbation  from  the  Commander 
in  Chief  and  from  Congress,  and  was  in  consequence 
of  this  important  service  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  artillery  of  which  he  had  thus  laid  the  found 
ation, — in  which  command  he  continued  with  in 
creasing  reputation  through  the  Revolutionary  War. 

Among  the  incidents  that  occurred  during  the  ex 
pedition  to  Canada,  was  his  accidental  meeting  with 
the  unfortunate  Andre,  whose  subsequent  fate  was  so 
deeply  deplored  by  every  man  of  feeling  in  both 
nations.  His  deportment  as  a  soldier  and  gentleman 
so  far  interested  General  Knox  in  his  favor,  that  he 
often  afterward  expressed  the  most  sincere  regret, 
that  he  was  called  by  duty,  to  act  on  the  tribunal 
that  pronounced  his  condemnation. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  war  the  corps  of 
artillery  was  principally  employed  with  the  main 
body  of  the  army,  and  near  the  person  of  the  Com 
mander  in  Chief,  and  was  relied  on  as  an  essential 
auxiliary  in  the  most  important  battles. 

There  was  perhaps  no  period  of  the  war,  when  the 
American  cause  assumed  an  aspect  so  precarious  as 
in  the  autumn  of  1777.  Philadelphia,  then  the  cen 
tre  and  capital  of  our  country — pre-eminent  for  its 
wealth,  its  population  and  its  trade — a  place  most 
distinguished  for  the  progress  of  the  arts,  was  des 
tined  to  fall  within  the  grasp  of  our  haughty  foe. 
In  the  campaign  that  preceded  its  occupation  by 
the  British,  General  Knox  was  a  conspicuous  actor, 
eager  for  the  contest,  yet  compelled  with  his  brave 
companions  to  lament  that  the  equipments  of  our 
army  were  unequal  to  the  heroic  spirits  of  its  soldiers. 
Trenton  and  Princeton  witnessed  his  enterprize  and 
valor.  At  that  critical  period  of  our  affairs,  when 


APPENDIX.  585 

hope  had  almost  yielded  to  despair,  and  the  great 
soul  of  Washington,  trembled  for  his  country's  free 
dom,  Knox  was  one  of  those  that  strengthened  his 
hand,  and  encouraged  his  heart.  At  that  awful 
moment,  when  the  tempest  raged  with  its  greatest 
fury,  he  with  Greene  and  other  heroes,  stood  as 
Pillars  of  the  Temple  of  Liberty,  till  the  fury  of  the 
storm  was.  past. 

The  letters  of  General  Knox,  still  extant,  written 
in  the  darkest  periods  of  the  revolution,  breathe  a 
spirit  of  devotedness  to  the  cause  in  which  he  had 
embarked,  and  a  firm  reliance  on  the  favor  of  Divine 
Providence ;  from  a  perusal  of  these  letters  it  is 
evident,  that  he  never  yielded  to  despondency,  but 
in  the  most  critical  moments  of  the  war,  confidently 
anticipated  its  triumphant  issue. 

In  the  bloody  fields  of  Germantown  and  Mon- 
mouth,  without  derogating  from  the  merits  of  others, 
it  may  be  said,  that  during  the  whole  of  these  hard 
fought  battles,  no  officer  was  more  distinguished  for 
the  discharge  of  the  arduous  duties  of  his  command ; — 
in  the  front  of  the  battle,  he  was  seen  animating  his 
soldiers  and  pointing  the  thunder  of  their  cannon. 
His  skill  and  bravery  were  so  conspicuous  on  the 
latter  occasion,  that  he  received  the  particular  ap 
probation  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  in  general 
orders  issued  by  him  the  day  succeeding  that  of 
the  battle,  in  which  he  says,  that  "  the  enemy  have 
done  them  the  justice  to  acknowledge  that  no  artil 
lery  could  be  better  served  than  ours."  But  his 
great  exertions  on  that  occasion,  together  with  the 
extreme  heat  of  the  day,  produced  the  most  alarm 
ing  consequences  to  his  health.  To  these  more  im 
portant  scenes,  his  services  were  not  confined  ;  with 
a  zeal  devoted  to  our  cause,  he  was  ever  at  the  post 
of  danger — and  the  immortal  hero,  who  stands  first 
on  the  list  of  heroes  and  of  men,  has  often  expressed 
his  sense  of  their  services.  In  every  field  of  battle, 
where  Washington  fought,  Knox  was  by  his  side. 
74 


586  APPENDIX. 

The  confidence  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  inspired 
by  early  services,  was  thus  matured  by  succeeding 
events.  There  can  be  no  higher  testimony  to  his 
merits,  than  that  during  a  war  of  so  long  continuance, 
past  almost  constantly  in  the  presence  of  Washington, 
he  uniformly  retained  his  confidence  and  esteem, 
which  at  their  separation  had  ripened  into  friendship 
and  affection.  The  parting  interview  between  Gen 
eral  Knox  and  his  illustrious  -and  beloved  Chief,  after 
the  evacuation  of  New  York  by  the  British,  and 
Knox  had  taken  possession  of  it  at  the  head  of  a  de 
tachment  of  our  army,  was  inexpressibly  affecting. 
The  hour  of  their  separation  having  arrived,  Wash 
ington,  incapable  of  utterance,  grasped  his  hand  and 
embraced  him  in  silence,  and  in  tears.  His  letters 
to  the  last  moment  of  his  life,  contain  the  most  flat 
tering  expressions  of  his  unabated  friendship.  Hon 
orable  to  himself  as  had  been  the  career  of  his  revo 
lutionary  services,  new  laurels  were  reserved  for 
him  at  the  siege  of  York  town. — To  the  successful 
result  of  this  memorable  siege,  the  last  brilliant  act 
of  our  revolutionary  contest,  no  officer  contributed 
more  essentially  than  the  commander  of  the  artil 
lery.  His  animated  exertions,  his  military  skill,  his 
cool  and  determined  bravery  in  this  triumphant 
struggle,  received  the  unanimous  approbation  of  his 
brethren  in  arms,  and  he  was  immediately  created 
Major  General  by  Congress,  at  the  recommendation 
of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  with  the  concurrence  of 
the  whole  army. 

The  capture  of  Lord  Corn  wall  is  closed  the  contest, 
and  with  it  his  military  life.  Having  contributed  so 
essentially  to  the  successful  termination  of  the  war, 
he  was  selected  as  one  of  the  commissioners  to  adjust 
the  terms  of  peace,  which  service  he  performed  in 
conjunction  with  his  colleagues,  much  to  the  satisfac 
tion  of  his  country.  He  was  deputed  to  receive  the 
surrender  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  seon  after 
appointed  to  the  command  of  West  Point.  It  was 


APPENDIX.  587 

here  that  he  was  employed  in  the  delicate  and  ar 
duous  duty  of  disbanding  the  army,  and  inducing  a 
soldiery,  disposed  to  turbulence  by  their  privations 
and  sufferings,  to  retire  to  domestic  life  and  resume 
the  peaceful  character  of  citizens. 

It  is  a  fact  most  honorable  to  his  character,  that 
by  his  countenance  and  support,  he  rendered  the 
most  essential  aid  to  Washington,  in  suppressing  that 
spirit  of  usurpation  which  had  been  industriously 
fomented  by  a  few  unprincipled  and  aspiring  men, 
whose  aim  wras  the  subjugation  of  the  country  to 
a  military  government.  No  hope  of  political  eleva 
tion — no  flattering  assurances  of  aggrandizement 
could  tempt  him  to  build  his  greatness  on  the  ruin 
of  his  country. 

The  great  objects  of  the  war  being  accomplished, 
and  peace  restored  to  our  country,  General  Knox 
was  early,  under  the  confederation,  appointed  Sec 
retary  of  War  by  Congress,  in  which  office  he  was 
confirmed  by  President  Washington,  after  the  estab 
lishment  of  the  Federal  Government.  The  duties 
of  this  office  were  ultimately  increased,  by  having 
those  of  the  navy  attached  to  them — to  the  establish 
ment  of  which  his  counsel  and  exertions  eminently 
contributed.  He  differed  in  opinion  from  some  other 
members  of  the  cabinet  on  this  most  interesting  sub 
ject. — *0ne  of  the  greatest  men  whom  our  country 
has  produced,  has  uniformly  declared,  that  he  consid 
ered  America  much  indebted  to  his  efforts,  for  the 
creation  of  a  power  which  has  already  so  essentially 
advanced  her  respectability  and  fame. 

Having  filled  the  office  of  the  War  Department 
for  eleven  years,  he  obtained  the  reluctant  con 
sent  of  President  Washington  to  retire,  that  he 
might  give  his  attention  to  the  claims  of  a  numerous 
and  increasing  family.  This  retirement  was  in  con 
currence  with  the  wishes  of  Mrs.  Knox,  who  had 
accompanied  him  through  the  trying  vicissitudes  of 

*  President  Adams. 


588  APPENDIX. 

war,  shared  with  him  its  toils  and  perils,  and  who 
was  now  desirous  of  enjoying  the  less  busy  scenes  of 
domestic  life.  A  portion  of  the  large  estates  of  her 
ancestor,  General  Waldo,  had  descended  to  her, 
which  he  by  subsequent  purchase  increased  till  it 
comprized  the  whole  Waldo  Patent,  an  extent  of 
thirty  miles  square,  and  embracing  a  considerable 
part  of  that  section  of  Maine,  which  now  constitutes 
the  counties  of  Lincoln,  Hancock  and  Penobscot. 
To  these  estates  he  retired  from  all  concern  in 
public  life,  honored  as  a  soldier  and  beloved  as  a  man, 
devoting  much  of  his  time  to  their  settlement  and 
improvement.  He  was  induced  repeatedly  to  take  a 
share  in  the  government  of  the  state,  both  in  the 
house  of  representatives  and  in  the  council — in  the 
discharge  of  whose  several  duties,  he  employed  his 
wisdom  and  experience  with  the  greatest  assiduity. 
At  that  time  Maine  and  Massachusetts  composed 
one  great  and  powerful  state.  His  enlarged  and 
liberal  policy  as  a  legislator,  was  manifested  on 
every  question  on  which  he  acted,  and  in  every  de 
bate  in  which  he  took  a  part.  While  at  the  council 
board  of  Massachusetts  on  all  public  political  ques 
tions,  his  opinions  had  great  weight  with  Governor 
Strong,  at  that  period  the  worthy  chief  magistrate  of 
the  commonwealth.  Though  independent  and  firm 
in  his  political  sentiments,  like  Strong  he  was  dis 
posed  to  conciliate  those  who  differed  from  him  in 
opinion,  and  was  wholly  free  from  the  spirit  of  in 
tolerance. 

In  1798,  when  the  French  insults  and  injuries  to 
wards  this  country  called  for  resistance,  he  was  one 
of  those  selected  to  command  our  armies,  and  to  pro 
tect  our  liberty  and  honor,  from  the  expected  hos 
tilities  of  the  French  Directory  :  happily  for  our 
country  their  services  were  not  required. 

Retired  from  the  theatre  of  active  life,  he  still  felt 
a  deep  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  his  country. 
To  that  portion  of  it,  which  he  had  chosen  for  his 


APPENDIX.  589 

residence,  his  exertions  were  more  immediately 
directed.  His  views  like  his  soul,  were  bold  and 
magnificent ;  his  ardent  mind  could  not  want  the 
ordinary  course  of  time  and  events;  it  outstripped 
the  progress  of  natural  improvement.  Had  he 
possessed  a  cold  calculating  mind,  he  might  have 
left  behind  him  the  most  ample  wealth ;  but  he 
would  not  have  been  more  highly  valued  by  his 
country,  or  more  beloved  by  his  friends. — He  died, 
at  Montpelier,  his  seat  in  Thomaston,  25th  of  Octo 
ber,  1806,  from  sudden  internal  inflammation,  at  the 
age  of  56,  from  the  full  vigor  of  health. 

The  great  qualities  of  General  Knox,  were  not 
merely  those  of  the  hero  and  the  statesman ;  with 
these  were  combined  those  of  the  elegant  scholar, 
and  the  accomplished  gentleman.  There  have  been, 
those  as  brave  and  as  learned,  but  rarely  a  union 
of  such  valor,  with  so  much  urbanity — a  mind  so 
great,  yet  so  free  from  ostentation. 

In  sketching  the  life  of  such  a  man,  it  is  not  the 
least  interesting  part,  to  recall  his  private  virtues. 
Long  will  he  be  remembered  as  the  ornament  of 
every  circle  in  which  he  moved,  as  the  amiable  and 
enlightened  companion,  the  generous  friend,  the  man 
of  feeling  and  benevolence ; — his  conversation  was 
animated  and  cheerful,  and  he  imparted  an  interest 
to  every  subject  that  he  touched.  In  his  gayest 
moments  he  never  lost  sight  of  dignity ; — he  invited 
confidence,  but  repelled  familiarity.  His  imagi 
nation  wras  brilliant,  his  conceptions  lofty ;  and  no 
man  ever  possessed  the  power  of  embodying  his 
thoughts  in  more  vigorous  language;  when  ardently 
engaged  they  were  peculiarly  bold  and  original,  and 
you  irresistibly  felt  in  his  society,  that  his  intellect 
was  not  of  the  ordinary  class.  Yet  no  man  was  more 
unassuming,  none  more  delicately  alive  to  the  feel 
ings  of  others.  He  had  the  peculiar  talent  of  render 
ing  all  who  were  with  him,  happy  in  themselves ; 
and  no  one  ever  more  feelingly  enjoyed  the  happi- 


590  APPENDIX. 

ness  of  those  around  him.  Philanthropy  filled  his 
heart ;  in  his  benevolence  there  was  no  reserve — it 
was  as  diffusive  as  the  globe,  and  extensive  as  the 
family  of  man.  His  feelings  were  strong  and  ex 
quisitely  tender.  In  the  domestic  circle  they  shone 
with  peculiar  lustre — here,  the  husband,  the  father 
and  the  friend,  beamed  in  every  smile — and  if  at  any 
time  a  cloud  overshadowed  his  own  spirit,  he  strove 
to  prevent  its  influence  from  extending  to  those  that 
were  dear  to  him.  He  was  frank,  generous  and  sin 
cere.  And  in  his  intercourse  with  the  world,  uni 
formly  just.  His  house  was  the  seat  of  elegant  hospi 
tality,  and  his  estimate  of  wealth,  was  its  power  of 
diffusing  happiness.  To  the  testimony  of  private 
friendship,  may  be  added  that  of  less  partial  strangers, 
who  have  borne  witness,  both  to  his  public  and  private 
virtues.  Lord  Moira,  who  is  now  perhaps  the  great 
est  general  that  England  can  boast  of,  has  in  a  late  pub 
lication  spoken  in  high  terms  of  his  military  talents. 
Nor  should  the  opinion  of  the  Marquis  Chattelleux 
be  omitted.  "As  for  General  Knox,"  he  says,  "to 
praise  him  for  his  military  talents  alone,  would  be  to 
deprive  him  of  half  the  eulogium  he  merits ;  a  man 
of  understanding,  well  informed,  gay,  sincere  and 
honest — it  is  impossible  to  know  without  esteeming 
him,  or  to  see  without  loving  him, — thus  have  the 
English  without  intention,  added  to  the  ornaments 
of  the  human  species,  by  awakening  talents  where 
they  least  wished  or  expected."  Judge  Marshall 
also,  in  his  Life  of  Washington,  thus  speaks  of  him, 
"throughout  the  contest  of  the  revolution,  this 
officer  had  continued  at  the  head  of  the  Ameri 
can  artillery,  and  from  being  colonel  of  a  regiment, 
had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  general. 
In  this  important  station  he  had  preserved  a  high 
military  character,  and  on  the  resignation  of  General 
Lincoln,  had  been  appointed  secretary  of  war.  To 
his  great  services,  and  to  unquestionable  integrity, 
he  was  admitted  to  unite  a  sound  understanding : 


APPENDIX.  591 

and  the  public  judgment  as  well  as  that  of  the  chief 
magistrate,  pronounced  him  in  all  respects  competent 
to  the  station  he  filled.  The  president  was  highly 
gratified  in  believing  that  his  public  duty  comported 
with  his  private  inclination,  in  nominating  General 
Knox  to  the  office  which  had  been  conferred  on  him 
under  the  former  government."  As  a  proof  of  their 
estimation  of  his  literary  attainments,  the  president 
and  trustees  of  Dartmouth  College  conferred  on  him 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

Perhaps  in  no  instance  of  his  life,  was  his  warmth 
of  heart  and  strength  of  attachment,  more  fully  ex 
emplified  than  at  the  closing  interview  of  the  princi 
pal  leaders  of  the  war,  when  they  were  about  to 
take  a  final  leave  of  each  other,  never  probably  to 
meet  again.  It  was  most  natural  that  the  recollec 
tion  of  past  scenes  should  awaken  the  liveliest  emo 
tions — the  bosom  of  the  soldier  is  the  residence  of 
honor  and  of  feeling,  and  no  man  cherished  them  more 
fondly  than  Knox.  He  proposed  to  his  brethren  in 
arms,  that  some  course  should  be  adopted  to  keep 
alive  the  generous  attachment,  which  was  the  fruit  of 
their  long  intercourse  and  mutual  toils  and  dangers ; 
the  proposal  accorded  with  the  feelings  of  the  princi 
pal  officers  of  the  army,  who  united  in  forming  the 
Cincinnati,  a  society  whose  object  was  to  cement  and 
perpetuate  the  friendship  of  its  founders  and  transmit 
the  same  sentiment  to  their  descendants.  Pure  as  are 
believed  to  have  been  the  motives  of  those  who  asso 
ciated  in  forming  this  society,  there  were  not  wanting 
some  who,  from  ignorance  or  illiberality,  professed  to 
doubt  the  purity  of  its  character  and  the  correctness 
of  its  objects.  *  But  it  is  a  fact  derived  from  the 
highest  authority,  that  it  had  from  its  commence 
ment,  the  unqualified  approbation  of  the  Commander 
in  Chief  expressed  in  the  most  decided  language. 
Such  sanction  as  that  of  Washington,  could  not  fail  t« 

*  Governor  Brook?. 


592  APPENDIX. 

do  away  every  suspicion  of  its  unfairness  and  to  estab 
lish  the  rectitude  of  its  motives  and  principles. 

General  Knox  was  a  supporter  of  Christian  institu 
tions,  and  contributed  much,  by  his  liberality  and  his 
example,  to  promote  the  preaching  of  the  gospel.  It 
always  appeared  to  afford  him  the  highest  pleasure 
to  bear  testimony  to  the  excellence  of  Christianity, 
and  he  often  expressed  his  firm  belief  that  its  exalted 
principles  were  intended  to  correct  the  heart,  and  to 
purify  the  life ;  to  make  man  what  he  ought  to  be  in 
this  world,  and  to  prepare  him  for  the  more  elevated 
enjoyments  of  the  future.  He  most  firmly  believed 
in  the  immortality,  and  the  immateriality  of  the 
soul. 

From  his  reflections  on  religion,  committed  by 
him  to  paper,  it  is  evident  that  his  thoughts  were 
often  and  intensely  employed  on  the  all  important 
concerns  of  a  future  state  of  existence  ;  that  he  firmly 
believed  in  an  overruling  providence,  and  that  he 
was  created  and  sustained  by  its  power  and  good 
ness.  He  considered  the  order,  harmony  and  beauty 
of  creation  as  affording  the  most  convincing  proof  of 
wisdom  and  design.  He  thought  the  universal 
distribution  of  blessings  among  mankind,  furnished 
conclusive  evidence  of  the  goodness  of  the  Being, 
from  whose  bounty  they  flow.  But  it  was  a  subject  on 
which  he  reasoned  for  himself,  unfettered  by  the  ar 
rogant  dogmas  of  the  churchmen,  or  the  metaphysical 
subtleties  of  the  schools.  He  expressed  axalted  pleas 
ure  in  the  full  conviction,  that  the  arm  of  Almighty 
Power  was  extended  for  the  protection  of  the  whole 
family  of  man,  without  respect  to  Jew  or  Gentile. 
The  exclusive  pretensions  of  the  various  sects  and 
denominations  in  the  church,  he  considered  the  fruits 
of  human  invention,  and  altogether  unworthy  the 
wisdom  of  the  Almighty  Mind. 

Elevated  by  the  aspirations  of  his  own  exalted 
mind,  he  believed  our  residence  on  this  globe,  which 
he  considered  but  an  atom  in  creation;  as  only  the 


APPENDIX.  593 

commencement  of  a  progressive  state  of  existence, 
still  rising  toward  perfection  from  sphere  to  sphere, 
till  by  successive  gradations  of  intellectual  and  moral 
improvement  we  are  prepared  for  the  presence  and 
enjoyment  of  the  All  Perfect  Being  who  created  us. 


75 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

INTRODUCTION 5 

Causes  which  led  to  the  war               .*....  9 

Whig  and  tory         . 11 

Parliament  impose  a  duty  on  tea — a  cargo  of  tea  destroyed  in 

Boston 13 

British  troops  arrive  in  Boston,  and  General  Gage  appointed 

governor  and  commander ib. 

Courts  of  justice  interrupted  by  the  people         ....  ib. 

The  Otis  family 14 

Colonel  Nesbit  tars  and  feathers  a  countryman           .         .         .  15 

Intelligence  received  of  the  battle  at  Lexington      ...  16 

Companies  of  minute  men  formed      ......  17 

Lexington  battle  described 18 

Origin  of  the  term  Yankee .  19 

Provincial  Congress  address  the  people            ....  20 

Zeal  and  military  ardor  pervade  New  England            .         .         .  ib. 

Town  of  Boston  invested       .......  ib. 

The  British  practise  the  maxim,  divide   and  conquer — We  en 
join,  unite  and  be  invincible 21 

Liberty  poles  erected  and  tories  disciplined        ....  22 
New  England  clergy  advocate  whig  principles         ...  23 
General  Gage's  proclamation  declaring   the  Province  of  Mas 
sachusetts  to  be  in  a  state  of  rebellion         ....  24 
Attempts  to  dissuade  the  author  from  engaging  in  the  army         .  25 
The  author  repairs  to  the  Provincial  Congress  and  offers  him 
self  a  candidate  for  an  office        ......  26 

Visits  the  forefathers1  rock  at  Plymouth 27 

Battle  on  Breed's  hill — General  Warren  slain          .  28 

Result  of  the  battle 33 

The  author  passes  a  medical  examination,  and  is  appointed  (o 

the  hospital  department      .......  34 

General  Washington  appointed  Commander  in  Chief— Arrives 

at  Cambridge     .........  35 

Generals  Lee  and  Gates  arrive  at  Cambridge     ....  36 

A  view  of  General  Washington      ......  37 

Cannonade  from  our  works  and  from  the  enemy          .         .         .  ib. 

Congress  issue  paper  money ib. 

Rifle  men  arrive  at  camp,  their  expert  shooting          .         .         .  ib. 


596  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Dr.  Benjamin  Church  detected  in  a  treacherous  correspon 
dence  with  the  enemy         .......  38 

General  Gage  sails,  for 'England 39 

General  Howe  prohibits  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  leaving  the 

town ib. 

Their  distressed  situation            .......  40 

State  of  our  military  hospital          ......  ib. 

Captain  Manly  takes  a  valuable  prize         ...  41 

Destitute  condition  of  the  troops  and  inhabitants  in  Boston     .  ib. 

Connecticut  troops  quit  camp  and  the  militia  arrive             .         .  42 

Americans  occupy  Leachmere's  point — cannonade  on  both  sides  ib. 

Critical  situation  of  our  army ib. 

Death  of  General  Montgomery 43 

Major  Knowlton  burns  several  houses  in  Charlestown      .         .  44 

Anecdote  of  British  officers         .                   ib. 

British  officers  alarmed  while  at  the  theatre              ...  ib. 

The  author  joins  Colonel  W.'s  regiment     .....  45 

Preparations  for  a  battle         .......  ib. 

Our  army  take  possession  of  Dorchester  heights         ...  46 
General   Howe  sends  out  a  flag  proposing  to  evacuate  the 

town  of  Boston 48 

Boston  evacuated 49 

Our  troops  march  into  Boston 50 

View  of  the  Old  South  Church 51 

Dr.  Elliot  preaches  a  thanksgiving  sermon      ....  ib» 

Funeral  solemnities  of  the  late  General  Warren          ...  52 

British  ships  driven  from  Nantasket 53 

Prizes  taken  with  Colonel  Campbell,  &c 53 

Deplorable  situation  of  our  army  in  Canada,  and  death  of 

General  Thomas — his  character           .....  54 

Independence  declared  by  Congress 55 

Anecdote    of  Mr.  H.  and  Mr.  G. 57 

British  attack  Charleston,  South  Carolina          ....  58 

Parliament  hire  foreign  troops 59 

The  two  Howes  appointed  commissioners           ....  ib. 
Letter  from  the  commissioners  to  General  Washington  not 

properly  directed,  and  is  refused 60 

Colonel  Patterson  has  an  interview  with  Washington          .         .  61 

Colonel  Witcomb's  regiment  march  to  Ticonderoga        .         .  62 

Bite  of  a  rattle  snake 63 

Horrid  plot  discovered  at  New  York       .....  64 

Treachery  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Zedwitz                  ,  ib. 

Battle  on  Long  Island             .......  65 

Our  retreat  from  New  York 67 

Lord  Howe  desires  an  interview  with  some  members  of  Congress  ib. 

Result  of  the  interview 68 

Destructive  fire  in  New  York 69 

General  Washington  in  danger 70 

Remarkable  escape  of  part  of  our  army ib. 

Formation  of  our  army 71 

Pay  and  rations 73 

Ticonderoga  described ib. 

American  Torpedo 75 

Naval  action  on  Lake  Champlain 76 

The  enemy  retire  into  Canada 79 


CONTENTS.  597 

PAGE 

The  British  take  possession  of  Newport           ....  79 

Forts  Washington  and  Lee  taken  by  the  enemy         .         .         .  ib. 

General  Lee  taken — Gloomy  aspect  of  affairs          ...  80 

Proclamation  of  commissioners 81 

Riot  in  camp          .........  82 

Capture  of  Hessians  at  Trenton 83 

Ravages  of  the  British  in  Jersey     ......  85 

"Washington's  victory  at  Princeton 86 

The  enemy  driven  from  Jersey 87 

Washington's  proclamation ib. 

Spy  executed         .........  88 

Rigorous  treatment  of  General  Lee            .....  i&. 

Retaliation  resorted  to            .                   ib. 

Cruel  treatment  of  our  prisoners 89 

Outrageous  conduct  of  the  enemy            .....  91 

Stores  ht  Peekskill  destroyed 93 

Stores  at  Danbury  destroyed           ......  94 

British  plan  for  the  campaign 95 

Romantic  view 96 

Burgoyne's  bombastic  proclamation             .....  97 

British  army  approaches  Ticonderoga     .....  98 

Ticonderoga  evacuated      ........  99 

Retreat  of  our  army  under  General  St.  Clair  and  battle  at 

Hubberton  and  at  Fort  Ann 101 

Genera]  Prescott  taken  at  Newport 103 

General  Washington's  manifesto 104 

Fort  Stanwix  invested 105 

City  of  Albany  described 108 

American  army  under  General  Schuyler  retreat  from  Fort  Ed 
ward  to  Stillwater 109 

Brave  conduct  of  Major  Hull ib. 

Burgoyne  despatches  Colonel  Baum  on  an  expedition  to  Ben- 

ningt'  n — His  curious  instructions            .....  ib. 

He  is  attacked  and  defeated  by  General  Stark       .         .         .  Ill 

Affecting  anecdote .  113 

Major  General  Gates  supersedes  General  Schuyler  and  issues 

a  proclamation            ........  ib. 

Murder  of  Miss  Jenney  McCrea ib. 

General  Gates  complains  to  General  Burgoyne  of  cruel  mur 
ders — Burgoyne's  reply       .         .         .         .         .         .  ^    114 

General  Gates  advances  to  offer  battle 116 

Battle  of  the  19th  of  September 117 

General  Lincoln  detaches  Colonel  Brown  to  Fort  George           .  118 

Nathan  Palmer,  a  spy,  executed     .         .         .         .         .         .  119 

Expedition  of  the  enemy  up  the  North  river       ....  120 

Battle  of  the  7th  of  October 121 

British  General  Frazer  slain — General  Arnold  wounded                .  122 

General  Lincoln  wounded      .......  123 

Remarkable  escape  of  part  of  Gates' army         ....  124 

Forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton  taken                                 •  125 

Esopus  burnt 126 

Burgoyne  in  a  deplorable  situation  and  General  Gates  under 

embarrassment 126 

Daniel   Taylor  a  spy  taken   and   executed — He    swallows  a 

silver  bullet  and  is  made  to  discharge  it          .         .         .  127 


598  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Burgoyne  proposes  to  capitulate                .....  127 

Articles  of  capitulation  agreed  on       ......  128 

British  army  surrender            .......  129 

Burgoyne  attempts  to  evade  the  treaty       .....  i6. 

Trophies  of  the  victory  and  observations  respecting  it  .  .  130 

Misfortunes  of  Lady  Ackland 132 

Meritorious  services  of  General  Schuyler         ....  133 

Captured  officers  and  ladies  arrive  at  General  Schuyler's    .         .  134 

Our  hospital  crowded  with  wounded  men       ....  ib. 

Remarkable  preservation  of  Captain  Greg          ....  136 

Indian  mode  of  scalping         .......  137 

Ceremonies  at  an  Indian  treaty  ......  138 

Battle  of  Brandywine 139 

Royal  army  enter  Philadelphia  ......  140 

Battle  of  Germantown ib. 

Battle  of  Red  Bank 142 

Fort  Mifflin  evacuated  143 

Singular  conduct  of  Rev.  Mr.  Duche — his  prayer                .         .  144 

Master  Trotter's  dancing  school     ......  146 

American  Torpedo             ........  t&. 

Celebration  of  our  alliance  with  France  ....  150 

Sufferings  of  our  army  at  Valley  Forge 153 

Attempt  to  supersede  General  Washington     .         .         .         .  154 

Trial  and  execution  of  culprits           .         .         .         .         .         .  157 

Catastrophe  at  Schoharie  .  *  /  •  •  •  •  *&• 

Removal  from  Albany 158 

Robinson's  house  occupied  as  a  hospital — description  of  it  and 

its  vicinity 159 

Sugar  Loaf  Mountain,  and  Putnam's  Rock  ....  160 
Royal  commissioners  make  proposals  for  an  adjustment  of 

difficulties 161 

Congress  address  the  people           ......  162 

Dissatisfaction  among  our  officers       ......  163 

Congress  grant  half  pay  for  seven  years  ....  164 

Royal  army  evacuate  Philadelphia 165 

Battle  of  Monmouth  .  ib. 

Affair  of  General  Lee 166 

An  unlucky  shot .  .  167 

Royal  commissioners' improper  conduct  .  .•-.'  .  .  168 

Shaking  Quakers  169 

Tragical  event,  and  barbarous  conduct  at  Wyoming            .         .  170 

A  black  snake       .........  174 

French  fleet  arrive  at  Rhode  Island  and  an  expedition  there  .  ib. 

General  Lee  tried  and  condemned 175 

A  duel 176 

General  Putnam  visits  the  hospital  ....  .  176 

Declaration  of  British  commissioners  .  .  .  .  .  177 

Congress  reply  to  the  commissioners  .....  178 

Colonel  Baylor's  regiment  massacred  .....  179 

General  Washington  visits  the  hospital — his  person  described  .  181 
Generals  Schuyler  and  St.  Cldir  tried  and  acquitted — character 

of  General  St.  Clair 183 

Brigadier  General  Muhlenburg  gives  an  entertainment  .  .  184 

The  author  appointed  regimental  surgeon  ....  185 

A  visit  to  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette 186 


CONTENTS.  599 

PAGE 

Colonel  Alden  slain 186 

March  through  the  Jerseys 187 

A  remarkably  large  child 188 

An  entertainment      . ib. 

Log  huts        ..........  189 

A  duel 190 

A  celebration ib. 

Dinner  at  Head  Quarters— General  Washington  and  Mrs.  W.    .  191 

Public  execution             ......  193 

Grand  review  by  the  French  minister  and  Don  Mirrilliars            .  194 

General  Washington  on  horseback     ....  ib. 

Indian  Chiefs  review  our  army      .             .             .             .  ib. 

Review  by  Baron  Steuben — some  account  of  the  Baron          .  195 
A  duel        .             .             .             .             .             .             .             .^     188 

The  author  invited  to  join  Colonel  H.  Jackson's  regiment       .  199 

A  remarkably  large  ox  presented  to  General  Washington           .  200 

A  journey  to  Providence                   ....  ib. 

Incursion  of  Governor  Tryon  into  Connecticut          .             .  201 

Capture  of  Stony  Point                .             .             .             .  ib. 

Dinner  at  General  Gates'  Head  Quarters       ...  202 

Female  heroism                 .             .             .             .             ,;>           .  ib. 

Anecdote  of  Lieutenant  T.  and  General  Gates         .            .  ib. 

Penobscot  expedition                    .....  203 

A  forced  march  to  Boston                    ....  204 

Anecdote  of  a  soldier              .                      .             .         .  ib. 

Civilities  of  the  gentlemen  in  Boston             .             .             .  205 

Embark  for  Penobscot— Disembark  at  Kittery                .          ^ .  206 

March  to  FaJmouth                 .             .             .             .             .  ib. 

Defeat  of  our  army  and  navy  at  Penobscot         .             .             .  207 

Some  account  of  Falmouth  and  civilities  received  there       .  208 
Anecdote  of  J.  Otis,  Esquire                     .             .             .             .209 

Stony  Point  taken,  and  officers  rewarded  for  their  bravery     .  210 
Paulus1  Hook  taken  by  Major  Lee          .             .             .             .213 

Return  to  Providence             .....  ib. 

Mr.  Murray's  preachment            .....  ib. 

Anecdote  of  General  Prescott            ....  ib. 

Anecdote  of  a  negro         ......  214 

Newport  evacuated  by  the  British     .  ib. 

March  through  Connecticut  to  Head  Quarters                .             .  215 
Sufferings  of  our  army  by  cold  and  famine                 .             •  - 

Disadvantage  of  short  enlistments            .             .             ...  217 

General  Lincoln  and  Count  D'Estaing  make  an  unsuccessful 

attack  on  Savannah             .....  218 

Extraordinary  exploit  of  Colonel  White              .                          .  219 

Anecdote  at 'Head  Quarters                .             .             .             .  220 

Privations  and  sufferings  of  our  army  '  . 

Military  punishments  ..... 

Reeniistment  of  soldiers                                         .                          •  224 
Expedition  to  Staten  Island 

A  party  of  Massachusetts  soldiers  attempt  to  return  home         .  226 
Winter  quarters          .             .             .... 

Sufferings  of  our  soldiers — Severe  winter             .                          .  228 

Major  Boyles  and  party  surprized                  .             .             .  ib. 

A  grand  review  by  the  French  minister               .  ib. 

Pompous  funeral  at  Head  Quarters  230 


600  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Dissatisfaction  in  camp                  .....  231 

Great  depreciation  of  continental  money                  .             .  ib. 

Congress  grant  half  pay  to  the  officers  for  life                 .            .  232 

Committee  of  Congress  visit  camp                  .             *             .  233 

Public  execution              ......  ib. 

Difficulties  in  camp     ......  235 

Mutiny  of  two  regiments             .....  236 

Skirmish  at  Connecticut  Farms          ....  ib. 

Murder  of  the  lady  of  Reverend  Mr.  Caldwell                .             .  237 

General  Lincoln  surrenders  Charleston         .             .            .  238 

Three  spies  executed                    .....  239 

Battle  at  Springfield                .....  240 

Passaic  falls  described                   .....  242 

Remarkably  big  headed  boy  at  Tatawa         .            .            .  243 

French  fleet  and  army  arrive                    ....  244 

A  dinner  at  Lord  Stirling's        .....  245 

Corps  of  light  infantry  formed  under  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  247 

Our  army  prepared  for  active  service                   .             .             .  ib. 

A  Committee  from  Congress                ....  248 

A  sermon  by  Reverend  Mr.  E.  Hitchcock           .             .             .  249 

A  famine  apprehended            .....  ib. 

Our  army  march  in  pursuit  of  provisions              .            .            .  250 

Two  fatal  duels           ......  ib. 

Defeat  of  our  southern  army  under  General  Gates,  and  Baron 

de  Kalb  slain 251 

Funeral  of  General  Poor       .....  253 

Review  of  our  army  by  Indian  Chiefs                 .            .             .  254 

General  Washington  journeys  to  Hartford                 .             .  255 

Major  General  Greene  succeeds  to  the  command           .            .  ib. 

Treason  of  General  Arnold  and  capture  of  Major  Andre      .  256 

West  Point  described                    ...                          .  257 
Character  of  General  Arnold  and  circumstances  attending  the 

capture  of  Major  Andre                   ....  258 

The  captors  of  Major  Andre  rewarded                .             »             .  261 

Trial  and  condemnation  of  Major  Andre                    .             .  265 

Letter  from  Andre  to  General  Washington                      .             .  ib. 

Flag  from  New  York  respecting  Andre          .             .             .  271 

Execution  of  Major  Andre — his  character           .             .             .  272 

Tragical  death  of  Captain  Hale         ....  275 

Trial  of  Joshua  Smith,  Esquire,  Arnold's  confederate                .  280 

Incursion  of  the  enemy  on  northern  frontiers             .            .  281 

Successful  engagement  at  the  southward             .             .             .  282 
A  foraging  expedition             ... 

The  neutral  ground          .                                       ...  284 

Ladies  contribute  to  the  relief  of  our  army               .             .  287 

Address  from  an  American  lady               .             .             •             .  ib. 

Scarcity  of  provisions  in  camp           .  291 

Enterprize  of  Major  Talmage                   .             .             •             .  ib. 

Great  dissatisfaction  among  the  officers           .             .             .  292 
General  Washington  recommends  to  Congress  an  half  pay  es- 

tablishment  .  . 

New  arrangement  of  the  army                 ....  294 
Mutiny  of  the  Pennsylvania  line         .... 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Hull's  successful  expedition 

Mutiny  of  the  Jersey  line                                                           •  301 


CONTENTS.  601 

PAGE 

Brilliant  action  of  General  Sumpter                    .            .            .  304 

Battle  of  the  Cowpens              .....  305 

Devastation  on  the  neutral  ground          ....  306 

A  visit  to  the  British  lines  by  a  flag                .             .             .  307 

Confederation  ratified                   .....  308 

Inoculation  of  the  troops  with  smallpox        .             .             .  309 

Virtues  of  butternut         ......  310 

Capture  of  General  Wadsworth        ....  ib. 

Character  of  Dr.  Cochran  .  .  .  .  .311 

Battle  of  Guilford  .  .  .  .  .  .312 

Distress  of  our  southern  army             .             .             .             .  313 

Arnold's  expedition  to  Virginia          ....  ib. 

Success  of  General  Greene's  army  in  Carolina               .             .  ib. 

Desertions  from  the  enemy                 ....  314 

Colonel  Greene  and  his  party  slain                       .             .             .  ib. 

Singular  project  contemplated  by  the  enemy            .             .  315 

Important  despatches  taken  by  the  enemy          .             .             .  ib. 

Charms  of  martial  music         .....  316 

Our  army  advance  towards  the  enemy                .             .             .  317 

French  army  unite  with  ours               ....  318 

Corps  of  light  infantry  formed  under  the  command  of  Colonel 

Scammel,  the  author  joins  it                 ....  320 

Disaster  of  a  British  ship       .....  ib. 

Expedition  to  the  enemy's  lines               ....  321 

Our  army  in  motion,  conjecture  respecting  the  object  of  the 

campaign           .                                                                  .             .  322 
The  secret  explained,    we  march  for  the  southward — A  mas 
terly  piece  of  generalship                      ....  324 

Lord  Cornwallis  the  object  of  our  expedition           .             .  ib. 

March  through  the  city  of  Philadelphia               .             .             .  325 

French  fleet  arrive  at  the  Chesapeake             .             .             .  328 

Embark  at  the  head  of  Elk,  voyage  down  the  Chesapeake        ,  329 

Put  in  at  the  harbor  of  Annapolis                                 .             .  330 

Arnold's  expedition  to  Connecticut                                   .             .  ib. 

Naval  engagement  and  the  British  defeated                .  332 

Voyage  down  the  Chesapeake                 ....  ib. 

Reach  the  harbor  at  Jamestown         ....  333 

Arrive  at  Yorktown  and  begin  the  siege              .             .             .  334 

Colonel  Scammel  wounded  and  taken           .             .             .  335 

Anecdote  of  General  Washington  and  Mr.  Evans           .             .  336 

The  British  obliged  to  kill  their  horses           .             .             .  ib. 

Colonel  Tarleton  wounded  in  a  skirmish             .             .             .  ib. 

Death  of  Colonel  Scaramel                  ....  337 

A   detachment    from   the   allied  army   open    entrenchments 

against  the  enemy                .....  337 

Tremendous  cannonade  from  our  lines                 .             .             .  339 

A  splendid  conflagration  of  British  vessels                  .             .  ib. 

Second  parallel  line  thrown  up                 ....  340 

Two  redoubts  taken  by  the  allied  army        .             .             .  341 

Anecdote  of  General  Washington  and  Colonel  Cobb                  .  342 

Anecdote  of  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  Baron  Viominil,  (note)  ib. 

Cornwallis  proposes  to  capitulate                                 .             .  343 

Bold  attempt  to  effect  his  escape             .             .                          .  344 

Articles  of  capitulation  ratified          ....  ib. 

Surrender  of  the  British  army                  ,             .            .            .  345 

76 


602  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Singular  circumstance  respecting  Cornwallis  and  Mr.  Laurens, 

(note) 345 

Commander  in  Chief  expresses  his  thanks  to  the  army,  &c.       .  348 

Enormities  practised  by  the  enemy  in  Virginia          .              .  349 

Colonel  Tarletori's  horse  taken  from  him             .             .             .  350 

View  of  Yorktown  after  the  siege                   .             .             .  ib. 

Loss  on  both  sides  during  the  siege         ....  ib. 

.Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  enormities                 .             .             .  351 

Ferocious  animosity  between  the  two  parties                   .             .  352 

Cruel  death  of  Colonel  Hayne             ....  353 

Sanguinary  conduct  of  Lord  Rawdon                   .             .             .  358 

Anecdote  of  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  and  Lord  Cornwallis     .  359 

Battle  at  Eutaw  Springs               .....  360 

Anecdote  of  Lord  Cornwallis             ....  362 

Voyage  up  the  Chesapeake,  &c.              ....  ib. 

Exploit  of  Major  Trescott                    ....  363 

Incursion  of  the  enemy  on  our  frontiers               .             .             .  364 

Proceedings  of  Congress  on  our  victory         .             .  365 

Abbe  Baiidole's  address               .....  366 

Fatal  duel                    .             .                          ...  369 

Splendid  celebration  of  the  birth  of  the  Dauphin             .             .  372 

Mutiny  in  the  Connecticut  line                       .             .             .  ib. 

Cruel  Murder  of  Captain  Huddy             ....  375 

General  Washington  resolves  on  retaliation  and  the  lot  falls  on 

Captain  Asgill  as  the  victim                  ....  377 

Lady  Asgill  receives  intelligence  of  the  situation  of  her  son 
and  implores  the  compassion  of  the  king  and  queen,  and 

solicits  the  interposition  of  the  king  and  queen  of  France      .  378 
Count  de  Vergennes  addresses  General  Washington  in  favor 

of  Asgill  who  is  finally  liberated           ....  380 

Baron  Grimm's  erroneous  statement  respecting  Captain  Asgill  381 

Lady  Asgill's  two  letters  to  the  king  and  queen  of  France         .  382 

Dr.  Jones  and  Robert  Morris              ....  385 

Review  of  our  army  by  Count  Rochambeau                    .             .  386 

Lamented  death  of  Colonel  Laurens              .             .             .  387 

Loss  of  the  Royal  George           .             .             .             .             .  ib. 

Prospect  of  peace                    .....  388 

General  McDougall         ......  ib. 

Reduction  of  our  army           .....  389 

A  final  adieu  to  military  life         .....  390 

Society  of  Cincinnati              .            .             .             .             .  391 

Officers  of  the  army  memorialize  Congress          .             .             .  394 

Proceedings  of  that  body       .....  395 

Anonymous  letters  to  the  army                ....  396 

Wise  measures  of  Washington  to  counteract  the  effects  of  the 

anonymous  letters        ......  400 

Washington's  admirable  address  to  the  officers           .             .  401 
Author  of  the  anonymous  letters,  (note)              .             .  ib. 
The  officers  present  their  thanks  to  his  Excellency  with  affec 
tionate  expressions                .....  406 

General  Washington  addresses  Congress  in  favor  of  the  army  408 

Congress  grant  a  sum   in  gross  as  a  commutation  for  half  pay  409 
The  Commander  in  Chief  orders  a  cessation  of  hostilities  and 

Congratulates  the  army           ...  41 1 

Officers  still  dissatisfied  and  address  the  Commander  in  Chief  414 


CONTENTS.  603 

PAGE 

His  reply  .....  .416 

Proclamation  of  Congress  for  a  cessation  of  hostilities  .  417 

Mutiny  of  a  party  of  Pennsylvania  soldiers  .  .  ib. 

General  Washington  issues  his  farewell  orders  .  .  419 

Disbandment  of  the  army  .  .  421 

Congress  give  their  thanks  to  the  army — Painful  parting  scene  421 
Royal  army  evacuate  New  York  and  American  troops  take 

possession         .......  ib. 

General  Washington's  parting  scene  .  .  .  422 
General  Washington  resigns  his  commission  and  addresses  the 

president  of  Congress  .....  423 

Reply  of  the  president  of  Congress  ...  425 

Number  of  men  lost  during  the  American  war  .  .  426 

Loss  to  Great  Britain,  gain  to  the  United  States  .  .  ib. 

Extract  of  a  circular  letter  from  General  Washington  .  427 

Colonel  John  Crane  and  many  other  Boston  mechanics  .  428 
Colonel  Paul  Revere  .  .  .  .  .431 

Anecdotes  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Captain  Udang  .  .  432 

APPENDIX. 


General  Burgoyne's  observations  respecting  the  battles   at 

Saratoga  and  death  of  General  Frazer        .  .  .  435 

Affecting  story  of  Lady  Ackland  ....  437 

Extract  from  the  Baroness  Reidesel's  narrative         .  440 
Her  interesting  account  of  General  Frazer  and  other  wounded 

officers  .......  442 

Of  the  ladies  of  the  army  ....  447 

Her  kind  reception  by  General  Schuyler  .  .  .  450 

Anecdote  of  General  Burgoyne  and  General  Schuyler        .  452 

Battle  of  the  kegs  ....  .  .  453 

Capture  and  remarkable  adventures  of  General  Wadsworth  455 

Singular  adventures  of  Sergeant  Champe  .  .  .  462 

BIOGRAPHY. 


Of  General  Putnam  .....  485 

Heath 500 

Lincoln  .....  504 

Steuben          .....  517 

La  Fayette          .....  531 

Gates  .  .  .  .  .  .539 

Stark 549 

Sullivan  .  .  .  .  .  .551 

Conway  ,  .  .  .  •  555 

Lee 558 

Arnold  .....  567 

Knox  ,  ,581 


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